Kerala's culture is distinct and unique and that has made it
popular to tourists from around the world.
The culture of Kerala is also a composite and cosmopolitan culture
to which several people and races have made their significant
contributions. Kerala's population comprises of a large number of
the people from the Dravidians race, who also inhibit most of the
southern part of India. Hinduism is the principal religion with
considerable percentages of Muslims and Christians. The gradual
evolution of composite and cosmopolitans culture led to the
emergence of a spirit of tolerance and catholicity of outlook, which
still persist among the people of Kerala.
The cultural heritage of Kerala is also revealed in its varied
dance forms, martial arts and cuisine. Kathakali is a 300-year-old
dance form developed exclusively in Kerala combining the performing
art forms of opera, ballet, masque, and pantomime. Other dance forms
of Kerala are Krishnanattom, Mohiniyattom, Thullal, Koodiyattom,
Kolkkali, Thiruvathirakali, Kakkarishi Natakom, Oppanna and
Chavittunatakom. Panchavadyam, Nadanpattu, Omanathinkal Kidavo and
many more music forms have evolved over the centuries in Kerala.
Kerala culture has deeply influenced and enriched the Indian
cultural heritage and has been its integral part. Kerala is isolated
from the decant plateau by the mountainous belt of the Western
Ghats, but with a long coastline open to foreign influences, Kerala
has evolved a unique culture. Kerala's population comprises of a
large number of the people from the Dravidians race, who also
inhibit most of the southern part of India. Hinduism is the
principal religion with considerable percentages of Muslims and
Christians.
Kerala is isolated from the decant plateau by the mountainous belt
of the Western Ghats, but with a long coastline open to foreign
influences, Kerala has evolved a unique culture. It is a highly
politicized region, but has a long tradition of religious amity. It
is an educationally advanced state with its own language, Malayalam,
and has the highest rate of literacy (100%) among Indian states.
The festivals and art forms of Kerala are intricately beautiful.
Every festival, though connected with religious temples and shrines,
is more of a socio cultural event in which people of all creeds
participate. Today, these festivals are perhaps the only occasions
when the classical, folk and ritual arts of the state come alive. In
addition, it is interesting to note that no celebration in Kerala is
complete without an elephant pageant. Religion in Kerala
Kerala hailed, as God's own country, by many, deserves this
accolade because of many features geographical and
sociological.Religion has played a crucial role in Kerala's culture.
There are mainly three religions in Kerala - Hinduism, Christianity
and Islam. As far as the religion of Kerala is concerned, the
origins could be traced to Hinduism.
Then came in the Islamic faith and Christianity with its various
sects. The other Indian religions like Buddhism; Jainism had some
influence among the Hindus and was found scattered with their
migration to Kerala.
According to the 1991 census 57.38% of the population of Kerala are
Hindus, 23.33 Muslims and 19.32 Christians. The earliest settlers of
Kerala were the Proto-Australoids, the Mediterranean, Dravidians,
and the Aryans in 321-297 BC.
Hinduism
Hinduism, the world's oldest religion dates back to about 5000 BC.
The sacred texts include the Vedas, Epics and Puranas, apart from
other philosophical treatises. Hinduism is a way of life and is
based on the principle of Sanathana Dharma. The Hindus worship the
Supreme Being under three forms, Brahma- the creator, Vishnu- the
preservator and Shiva - destroyer.
Even today many temples in Kerala has mother (Baghavathy) and
animism (snake worship) has their main deity.
Islam
Islam is believed entered into India through Kerala. There are
historical records of commercial trading between Kerala and Middle
East during 7th Century AD. The Jews and Arabs of the Pre-Islamic
period were among the pioneers of spice trade with Kerala. The
religion of Islam was also by these traders from Middle East, who
later settled in Coastal belt of Kerala. To this day Muslims are
very proficient in trade and commerce. Muslims in Kerala, as
anywhere else in the world, are close-knit unit clear-cut religious
and political agenda.
Christianity
The Syrian Christians of Kerala believe that St. Thomas, one of the
direct disciples of Christ landed near Muziris in 52 AD and
established 7 churches, of which 4 exist even today.
Today, there are five distinct branches of Christianity in Kerala,
the Roman Catholic Church following either Syrian, Latin or
Malayalam liturgies, the Orthodox Syrian Church, the Mar Thomas
Syrian Church, the Church Of South India and the Nestorian Church.
Jainism
Though there is evidence of practice of Jainism in Kerala before
the arrival of Aryans. History is silent about it. The Famous
Jainmedu temple in Palakkad is the manifestation of Jainism in
Kerala. Today few families of Jain community are found around
Palakkad in Kerala.
Judaism
The traders from Middle East bought Judaism into Kerala during 7th
Century AD. Later these traders settled in Kochi. Jew Town in Kochi,
is the testimony of the Judaism in Kerala. Today it is one of few
places in World where Jews are living in peace. There is a Synagogue
in Jew Town. Today, Jew town is one of popular tourist location in
Kerala, where one can find many interesting antiquities of Kerala.
