ARCHITECTURE

Kerala has made its notable contributions to the science of architecture (called Tachu Sastra), both secular and religious, with treatises such as the Tantrasamuchaya, Vastuvidya, Manushyalaya-Chandrika and Silparatna

Many traditional houses have still been maintained here in good condition. Intricately carved wooden doors and paneling, a central open space in the middle of the house and long pillared verandas are the features of these palatial houses.

The traditional Kerala house is a quadrangular building called Nalukettu constructed strictly in accordance with the principles of the Tachu Sastra It was located in a self contained compound and was specially designed to cater to the needs of the huge extended families under the Marumakkathayam (matrilineal) system.

The house was generally built of laterite plastered with Chunam and the roofs were tiled or thatched with the leaves of palmyrah or coconut trees. The wood work of the building was usually solid and beautifully carved.

The Kerala temple also has a district architectural style which has been acquired as a result of a long process of evolution, from the rock-cut temples (prior to 800 C.E.) to the built ones.

In the course of centuries Kerala evolved its distinctive types of temple architecture mainly with circular, apsidal and elliptical ground plans. The dominance of the circular shrine is a unique feature of temple architecture in Kerala, especially in the southern half of the State.

The walls were mainly made of laterite blocks, but some made entirely of granite except the superstructure, which may also be in wood carvings. The sloping roof and the lavish use of wood are as characteristic of temples as they are of houses. The roof projects out at several levels, in order to protect the inner skeletal framework from the vigorous monsoons that inundate the region.

More on Kerala temples here: http://www.kalakeralam.com/handicrafts/keralatemples.htm
http://www.templenet.com/enckeraa1.html#Temple%20List
http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/templetradition.htm

ART FORMS:
Kathakali dance

One of the classical dances of India, Kathakali has a history of three centuries. An elaborate art form combining dance, pantomime, masque, it is said to have evolved from other performing arts like Kootiyattam, Krishnanattam and Kalarippayattu.

Kathakali’s repertoire includes stories from the Indian epics and Puranas. It is danced only by male performers (even for the female roles), in heavy colourful costumes, elaborate makeup and huge headgear, using bold movements as well as mudras, a symbolic hand language. It is performed in temples, after dusk, to the accompaniment of two varieties of drums - the maddalam and chenda; the chengila which is a bell metal gong and the ilathalam or cymbals.

Traditionally it went on all night, but nowadays there are shorter length performances for tourists, who are also allowed to watch, if they wish, the preparation of the artists including the make up session.

Chakkiyar Koothu

Chakkiyar Koothu is one of the oldest classical theatre arts of Kerala. Koothu is the Tamil word for folk dance and Chakkiyar is a small sect of the Brahmin community, attached to temples. The dance performed by people from the chakkiyar clan is called Chakkiyar Koothu.

The solo dance is presented in the koothambalams (enclosed temple stages) of temples to the accompaniment of the mizhavu (a kind of drum in the shape of a large spherical copper pot) and elathalam.

The Chakayar is a satirist who uses narrative and mime and innuendo to communicate with the audience, often ridiculing the people present there. It is his prerogative, and custom has conferred upon him immunity from interruption during the performance. The themes are usually from the epics. More detailed information here: http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/traditionalperformingartsforems.htm

Koodiyattam

Koodiyattam, which literally means “combined dance form”, is one of the most highly sophisticated dance forms of Kerala. At least 2000 years old, this stylized art is the oldest classical dramatic genre in the world, predating Kathakali and even the Japanese Kabuki. It is believed that Kulasekhara Varma Cheraman Perumal, a king of ancient Kerala, gave Koodiyattam its present structure and form; in his work “Aattaprakaram” he explicates vividly the various modes of presenting this emotive and often complex art.
Like Koothu, another popular dance form in Kerala, Koodiyattam is traditionally performed by chaakyaars at Koothambalam, a specialized theatre within the precincts of a temple, adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum. The female roles were portrayed by nangyars (women of nambiar community). This emotive art of stylised postures was declared a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by the UNESCO.
A typical Koodiyattam performance is usually staged in front of a lit lamp – nilavilakku- and is based on episodes from the Ramayana, the Mahabaratha or the Puranas. The performing artists also draw inspiration from the ancient Sanskrit plays of Bhasa, Harsha, Kalidasa, Maendravikrama and Saktibhadra.

MARTIAL ARTS
Kalaripayattu

Believed by many historians and scholars as one of the oldest and most scientific and comprehensive system of martial training existing in the world today (with origins traced back to the 12th century C.E.), Kalarippayattu is an Indian martial art practised in Kerala and contiguous parts of neighboring Tamil Nadu. It incorporates strikes, kicks, grappling, martial dance, and ?weaponry, as well as healing techniques.
Many of the traditional performing art forms of Kerala like Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Valakali etc. have drawn elements from Kalaripayattu during their stages of evolution. Kathakali has borrowed much from Kalaripayattu in its basic body preparatory training of the actor not only in terms of techniques in practice but also from the body massage for the trainee. Many of the body postures, choreography and footwork of the Kathakali characters are taken directly from Kalaripayattu.
Kalaripayattu declined after the 17th century but in recent times there is a great revival.

FESTIVALS

Indians love festivals, and Keralites are no exception. Festivals celebrate seasonal and religious occurrences, and are occasions to clean and decorate houses, to buy new clothes, to celebrate with music, dance and processions as well as home and temple rituals.

The ones described below are Kerala’s most spectacular, of interest to the general tourist. Onam Festival Kerala's most important festival, celebrated during the Malayalam month of Chingam, honours the demon-king Mahabali, a mythological king of ancient Kerala, whose period was reckoned as the golden age in the history of the state, and who was banished to the nether-world by Lord Vishnu.

During the ten day-long festival, Keralites, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, lay out at the entrance of their homes pookalams, intricately patterned floral carpets, to welcome their king who is believed to visit them on those days. Displayed at the centre of these artful creations are clay figurines of deities – thrikkakkara appan – adorned with intricate designs from rice paste. Pookalam has come up as an art form and competitions for producing creative pookalams are organised all over the state.

During Onam, there is a lot of dance and theatre: Kathakali artists, of course, as well as a folk art called Pulikali/Kuduvakali, where performers dress up like tigers and enact scenes of tigers hunting goats and tigers being hunted by humans. Women perform traditional dances such as Thumbi Thullal.and Kaikottikali, an elegant dance around the pookalam, with songs praising the renowned King Mahabali
Many games played on the occasion of Onam: rigorous sports like Talappanthukali, Kutukutu and mock-combats like Kayyankali and Attakalam, as well as archery.

Another highlight of this colorful festival is the ona-sadhya, a strictly vegetarian feast with over 20 side dishes and payasams served on a plantain leaf.

The Boat Races are an integral part of the culture and celebrations of Kerala. There are many of them, eagerly attended by locals and tourists alike.

Alappuzha Snake Boat Race

The immensely popular Snake boat race or Vallamkali is held on the fifth day of the Onam Festival.A large number of big and decorated boats called chundan vallams participate with hundreds of boatmen which accompany their rowing with songs. Usually a snake boat is manned by four helmsmen, 25 singers and 100 - 125 oarsmen who row in unison to the fast rhythm of the vanchipattu (song of the boatman).

Nearly 30 chundan vallams or snake boats participate in the festival, singing traditional boat songs. Each snake boat belongs to a village and is worshipped like a deity. Every year, the boat is oiled with fish oil, coconut shell and carbon, mixed with eggs to keep the wood strong and boat slippery in the water.

See a big picture and see why they're called snake-boats, HERE

Aranmula Uthrittathi

This is another superb boat event organized in connection with Onam. This annual event takes place on the day of Uthrittathi Asterism on river Pamba at Aranmula where a temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna. It’s a re-enactment of the mythological tale of Lord Krishna crossing the river on that particular day.

Thousands of people gather to witness the exciting snake boat races. It is assumed that the spirit of Krishna is present on all the boatsand all of them are expected to reach their destination simultaneously. Hence there is no competition of any sort in this event.

Thrissur Pooram

This festival, introduced by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state, is celebrated in the summer month of Medom (April-May) The event takes place at Thekinkadu Maidan in the grounds of the temple of Vadakkunathan (Lord Shiva)at Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala.

Thirty richly caparisoned elephants carrying ceremonial umbrellas and fanned by whisks are led to the temple, and the captain elephant is installed with the idol of Vadakkunathan. The elephants then parade accompanied by trumpets, pipers and crowds till after midnight, the day ending with a display of fireworks.

To avoid if you happen to dislike huge tourist crowds!

HANDICRAFTS

Kerala is known for its traditional craftsmanship where natural sustainable materials, herbal dies and deft fingers create objects to take home and cherish. Marquetry in wood, embroidery ?and lace, lapidary work, granite carvings, coconut shell carvings, lacquer work, Papier-mache masks, coir products including long-lasting floor rugs, bamboo reed and Palmyra leaf weaving, Kora grass mats, rattan or cane work, hand-woven cottons, bell Metal casting (images of gods and goddesses and temple lamps) and brass containers are some of the specialties of Kerala. Since the sale of ivory products is no longer permitted, the once flourishing art of ivory carving has become extinct. That same craftsmanship, however, is applied to ?rosewood and teak, as well as to buffalo horn carving. Aranmula metal mirrorwork, said to be a ?product developed because of an accident in metal casting, is made of an alloy of copper and tin and resembles the glass mirror in every way. The mirror is oval in shape and 6 inches in size and .50 inch thick and has a tail like handle. The polishing can take up to two days. The artisans of Aranmula, who have practiced this art all these years, have kept the method as a family secret.

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