Culture of Kerala
Kerala is a land of rich and fascinating
culture where various cultural influences converge at the same place. The
banks of the rivers of Kerala have nurtured a unique Kerala culture which is
homogeneous and heterogeneous at the same time. The Periyar river of Kerala
is a symbol of Hinduism with all its myriad cults and branches. The great
philosopher known as Adi Shankara was born in a village Kalady located on
the banks of this river. It was Adi Shankara who propagated the Hinduism in
its present form across India. It is the distinctness of the Kerala culture
which attracts tourists from far and wide. The Kerala culture can also be
described as a composite and cosmopolitan culture which is a result of
contributions from various people and races. A large part of population of
Kerala is Dravidian, very much like the rest of south India. Hinduism is the
main religion here with the Muslims and Christians also being present here.
The cultural heritage of the state is also present in the dance forms,
martial arts and cuisines of Kerala. The Kerala culture is an integral part
of the Indian culture as a whole. Though the state is isolated from the
Deccan plateau by Western Ghats, its vast coastline opens it to a variety of
foreign influences which has resulted in the formation of a unique Kerala
culture which is cosmopolitan in nature.
Dance Forms of Kerala
Kerala
has a huge reservoir of dances which are an expression of the deep rooted
cultural traditions of the state. These dances may reveal the religious side
of the people, or can be an expression of happiness because of arrival of
harvest season. Earlier, there were dances that were performed by men only
whereas other dances were performed by women only. Most of the folk dances
are performed with songs and which are sung by the dancers themselves or
accompanying musicians. Almost all the folk dances seem simple but there is
a profound meaning even in this simplicity. Some of the folk dance forms of
Kerala are:
» Mudiyettu
It is among the ancient performing art and is a ritual dance. This dance is
associated with Goddess Bhagwathy, the wife of Lord Shiva. The dance
glorifies the Goddess and narrates her triumph over demon Daruka.
» Theyyam
It is an ancient socio religious ceremony and the Theyyam dance is
performed for Goddess Kali. It is said that every village was bound to
perform this dance.
Martial Arts of Kerala
The martial arts of Kerala have deep rooted connections with the heritage
of the state. The prominent martial arts of Kerala are:
» Kalari
The literal meaning of the word is - the parade place for military
exercises. There are no instruments used to accompany its movements. The
movements of the martial arts practitioner are done according to the
instructions of the teacher which are expressed in a particular rhythm. It
is said that all the stronger elements of the dance forms of Kerala have
come from Kalari.
» Chavettu Pada
When the society of Kerala was feudal in nature, there used to be suicidal
squads whose motto was to kill or get killed. These dare devil soldiers were
known as Chavettupada. The soldiers were given rigorous training in the
martial arts and were maintained for the protection of famous temples.
