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| Jewellery |
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| Irrespective of religion or caste, most women
in Kerala wear gold ornaments and it forms an inevitable part
of most religious and social occasions like marriages. The most
outstanding piece of the Christian women's jewellery collection
used to be the enormous ring worn on the upper ear lobe. Muslim
women also have their distinctive ear rings, necklaces and elaborately
designed articles for the waist (Odyanam). |
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The popular traditional ornaments
are, gold necklaces like Manonmani, ilakkathali, Poothali, Palaykkamala,
Mangamala, Dalamini, Chuttiyum Chelum and Puliyamothiram. Ear
studs like Jimikki, Kannuneerthulli, Thoda etc; Bangles like
Kappu, stones, pearl and enamel painted bracelets etc. The ornament
worn around the waist inside the dress is called Aranjanam which
is usually a thin chain but those worn by the Muslim women like
a 'belt' over their dress are called Odyanam. |
| Pavitra moothiram |
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| The Payyannur Pavithra Mothiram is a uniquely
crafted golden ring shaped like a knot and considered to be
a sacred ornament. The sole right to make this holy ring was
vested in the hands of a particular family at Payyannur in Kannur
district. This ring is believed to be a luck and grace to anyone
who wears it with devotion. |
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The Nilavilakku is integral to all the rituals
and ceremonies in a Malayalee's (Keralite) life. As dusk creeps
in, young girls of the family bring the lighted lamps (nilavilakku)
to the verandah of the house. In the flickering light of the
nilavilakku she is joined by the children and elders of the
family, especially the grandparents, in chanting hymns and evening
prayers. Lighting the nilavilakku on any occasion is believed
to be auspicious. |
| Chips |
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| Kerala’s exotic cuisine offers a rare variety
of natural chips - without artificial colours or added flavours.
We make chips from unripe bananas, jack fruits, tapioca, potatoes
etc. You can find chips makers all over the State. These crisp,
salty, deep fried thin slices of vegetables are also made in
the houses and the most common is the banana chips. The taste
vary according to the change in cooking oil, (usually coconut
oil is used for frying). |
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The folk field has a variety of instruments like
pulluvan veena, pulluvan kudom, udukku, tampattam, sooryappira,
ampilivalayam etc, which are selectively used in non-Aryan temple
rituals and in religious songs and dances and also in some social
ceremonies. The traditional theatrical and ritualistic musical
instruments include chenda, chengala, maddalam, thimila, edakka,
maram etc. and they assist the ritualistic and festive music
of the Aryan temples and |
| traditional dance dramas like koothu, kathakali
etc. |
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