The charming costumes and jewelry of Kerala

As one thinks about the costume of men and women in Kerala, the first picture that comes to our mind is that of a woman clad in a lot of jewelry from her neck to the waistline, wearing a traditional set-saree. The people of Kerala love peace and serenity and hence, their traditional wear is also pure white or off-white. The people of Kerala are always enthusiastic in buying new clothes and wearing on every special occasion like marriage, festivals etc. Their dressing sense is as vivid and beautiful as the landscapes and cuisine you will enjoy during your Kerala tour packages. Women in Kerala, especially the Hindu women, wear the traditional Kerala saree, which is off-white in color with a golden Kasavu border.

Usually, it is a set of two separate cloths called the mundu and the neriyathu, in which the mundu is used to cover the lower part of the body and the neriyathu is for the top. The more exquisite and expensive ones are now worn on special occasions like wedding and festivals. Many foreigners love to try this traditional costume which suits everyone during their Kerala packages. The Christian women wear the same Mundu that has a small extension in the back like a fan and a blouse called Chatta. Muslim women are mostly seen wearing purdah, a long gown like the dress that covers the entire body. In the earlier days, Muslim women in Kerala used to wear Mundu and colorful blouse called Chatta with a Neriathu to cover their head. Men are mostly seen wearing a bottom wear called mundu or the Dhoti usually accompanied by a shirt or jubbah. Lungi is a casual bottom wear for men. Nowadays men prefer western wear too. In the olden days, men never wore any shirt. Instead, they preferred to drape a cloth called mel-mundu to cover their upper body.

Nowadays, men wear the same when they are visiting any temples on Kerala tourism packages specialized on Kerala customs. The styles and patterns of wearing any dress differ with the place and the religion they follow. Like the mundu worn by the men follow different style among the Muslims and a different style among the Hindus.

Sarees, salwar and jeans etc have become the common dresses in most parts of Kerala. Men prefer shirts and trousers as casual wear. Off late, people in Kerala are adapting the modern western wear and are comfortable wearing the same. Traditional wear has become an occasional wear in most parts of Kerala. Bridal costumes vary a lot in all the communities. They are the trademark of Kerala you will enjoy during your Kerala holiday packages with personalized options. The costume for the brides in Hindu marriages is saree, which come in bright colors and shades with heavy embroidery work.

Many women prefer Kanchipuram silk sarees for the wedding, preferably in colors like red, green, maroon, orange etc. on their auspicious day. Sometimes, these sarees are adorned with crystal work, stones and beads to add more richness. It totally gives a grand look to the bride. Men usually wear a Kasavu mundu or silk Dhoti and shirt. If you are attending a typical Kerala Hindu wedding during your Kerala tour packages from Mumbai, don’t miss a chance to get dressed in the traditional Kerala wear to attend the wedding. Among the Muslims, men used to wear a simple mundu and shirt in the earlier days.

But nowadays, keeping with the fashion trends, things have changed. Muslim men prefer sherwanis or kurtas for their wedding. Muslim women wear a silk saree or rich embroidered Lehenga with their head covered with a golden dupatta. Among the Christians, the women prefer to wear white for their wedding. Men are usually seen in a white shirt and black trousers with blazers or sometimes plain shirt and mundu. Women chose to wear white saree and a veil. Nowadays women are choosing to wear white gown instead of saree. If you are attending a modern Christian wedding during your Kerala tour packages from Delhi, you will be surprised to find the bride and the groom dressed in the English way which is trending.

Kerala is famous for their hand-woven (kai thari) sarees too. Most of the villages still create the handloom sarees which are always in demand. Half sarees are in high demand for the young girls nowadays. Pattu pavada or silk skirt is worn by young girls are again either silk or plain. These days, such costumes are worn on special occasions like weddings, Onam and Vishu. Tourists on Kerala trip who love to explore these traditional wear are always open to visiting the looms where they make these hand-woven beautiful sarees.

Most of the tourists visiting Kerala enjoy wearing these traditional dresses. Along with the costumes, the jewelry is also very important, particularly for the women. Any attire is incomplete without the jewelry. The people of Kerala love gold jewelry as you may realize when you visit a gold jewelry during your Kerala tour. They love to dress up and wear as many gold ornaments as they can. For marriages, gold jewelry has become an integral part. Kasu Mala (Kaasumala), Palakka Mala, Nagapada Thali, Karimani Mala, Mullamottu Mala, Manga Mala, Cheruthali (Thalikoottam), Addiyal, Kashali, Poothali, Jhimki etc. are the old traditional jewelry of Kerala.

Though the traditional ornaments still retain their space in bridal wear, most of the people try to give it a modern outlook. Other than this bridal jewelry, there are ornaments that are adorned for the gods too in the temple called the Thiruvabharnam, which is supposed to be sacred. In the olden days, even men used to pierce their ears and wear a small stud called kadukkan. As they say, fashion will repeat after a few years, you will find many men with one of both ears pierced in Kerala during your Kerala travel.

The Mulla Mottu mala looks like jasmine buds lined along the necklace. Usually, this jewelry is either full gold or accompanied by beads or precious stones of various colors. The Manga mala looks like mango pendants woven along the necklace and is truly a visual treat. Kasu mala has coin-like pendants assembled together. Palakka mala is also mango-shaped with a flat emerald stone in the middle. This pattern has come a long way from the olden days to the modern generation too. You will find this jewelry worn by newly married women on their Kerala honeymoon packages visiting the temples or during some functions. That’s probably the only times they wear such traditional ornaments which have a charm and elegance of their own. The Nagapada thali is similar to the Palakka mala, but the pendant is in the shape of a snake’s hood. It has a mix of green and red stones. Karimani mala is similar to the Mangalsutra used in northern parts of India. It has gold and small black beads. Karimani means black beads that are very small like mustard seeds!

Kolusu or anklets worn by many girls are either gold or silver. Jimmiki is the earring worn by the brides and are seen as a part of temple jewelry too. It is like the jhumkas in the North India but the shape of the bell is rather rounded here and typically, it will not have any Kundan beads hanging from the middle of the jhumki. Many people love this typical Kerala jewelry and tend to buy some during their Kerala tours. 

Gold has become an inseparable part of any occasion, be it a wedding or a festival! The brides adorned in jewelry are always a blissful sight, though sometimes it goes overboard! The jewelry adds to the beauty of the bride. Most of the women in Kerala, irrespective of their caste and religion, wear an ornament called thali, a leaf-shaped gold pendant which denotes that they are married. Every religion has some distinct jewelry that symbolizes the culture they follow. The Christian women wear a large ring like an earring that is worn on the upper ear lobe. The Muslim women wear distinct earrings, bangles and a waist belt called the Oddiyanam.

Most of the modern men in Kerala prefer to wear a single neck chain or bracelet. With the changing trends of fashion, the dressing and the jewelry has also changed and the people adapt a lot more of trendy jewelry now. In fact, in the earlier days, you will see women decked in a lot of jewelry mostly during their honeymoon packages with special appearance. But now the modern women rarely use any jewelry other than the Thali and the wedding ring at the most. Working women avoid gold jewelry due to safety, convenience and formality. Other than gold, diamond, platinum and silver are also in demand. 

If you visit any old palace or any ancestral homes in Kerala during your honeymoon packages in Kerala with surprises, you will find a variety of bronze and silver vessels here. These vessels were used to serve the great kings and queens of that time. Kerala has a unique and trending sense of fashion especially in gold, diamonds and platinum which makes it the perfect place to shop for precious jewelry.

Celebrating Vishu - The Festival of Wealth and Prosperity

Along with the summer holidays come the festivities of Vishu. The Hindu households of Kerala get ready to welcome this New Year of prosperity and wealth during the month of April. If you are planning for Kerala tour packages in April, make sure you are in Kerala on the 14^th of April to celebrate Vishu. It is actually a harvest festival which also has a few mythological stories connected to it. It is believed that Lord Krishna killed Narakasura on this day. Another myth related to Vishu is that Rama killed Ravana on this day. In short, we celebrate Vishu to commemorate this victory of good over the evil. There’s a great deal of celebrations associated with Vishu which includes the extravagant lunch feast called Sadya.

The preparations for Vishu start the previous day itself with shopping for vegetables and grocery to make the Sadya. By night, the elders of the house prepare the Vishukkani which is the auspicious sight to be seen first thing early in the morning. Though the same day is celebrated in different ways in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Vishu is a celebration which is unique to the people of Kerala. We welcome the new harvest year or the new astrological year with the grandeur of new clothes, money, sadya and firecrackers.

Though Vishu is typically a Hindu festival, most of the Malayalees join the celebration as a family get-together during their summer holidays Kerala tourism packages for enjoying the summer days. The hotels, resorts, malls and retail shops join the celebrations with various offers and decorations to celebrate the forthcoming prosperity. It is a shopping season as well as tourist season as the schools will be closed for 2 months of summer holidays and people visit their ancestral houses in Kerala to celebrate Vishu.

Vishu Kani

Vishu Kani is the decoration done using the golden yellow ‘Konnappoo’ which blossoms during this season in Kerala and the various seasonal fruits like Jackfruit, Mango, Guava etc. which are usually available from the household garden itself. Since the city does not have these fruit orchards, they buy them from the market or get them from their ancestral homes that still grow them. For those newly married into a Malayali family, celebrating Vishu during their honeymoon packages with exclusive offers in Vishu will be an amusing experience.

A big, thick bottom vessel called ‘Ururli’ which is typically used to make Payasam is kept in the Pooja room filled with raw rice. Upon that the various fruits are arranged. A coconut is cut into 2 and both sides are kept with the open sides facing up. They are filled with gold or silver coins or money. A Kasavu Mundu is starched and pleated like a Japanese fan and kept over the rice. Betel leaves, Arecanut, Fresh lemon and Golden cucumber are also arranged on the Uruli. An Aranmula mirror to reflect all these plus our face is also kept in the background decorated with gold chain. A statue of Lord Krishna playing the flute is also kept facing us. Not to forget the Konnapoo, this is spread over the fruits!

These decorations are done late at night by the elders at home. Usually, the ancestral homes are full of children and grandchildren during this time who come for on Kerala packages during the holidays. Early in the morning, much before the sunrise, the eldest member wakes up and lights the auspicious lamp which brightens up the Vishukkani. One by one, the other members are woken up, blindfolding their eyes with the hands so that their first sight of the New Year is the auspicious Vishukkani which depicts wealth and prosperity. The mirror is kept so that we see our face along with the Vishukkani. It is a great feeling which has to be experienced.

The Malayalis all over the world make sure they arrange a simple Vishukkani at least, with whatever things are available with them to a great start of New Year. This will be the most beautiful sight of Kerala holiday packages if you have not yet experienced it. Once the Vishukkani is seen, the younger ones take blessings from the elders at home.

Vishu Kaineettam

This is my favourite part of Vishu! Kaineettam is given as an auspicious start to the New Year. The elders give pocket money to the younger members so that they will have a prosperous start of the year. It depicts wealth which the elders bless the younger ones with a token blessing. Earlier, the elders used to give Annas and 1 rupee coins to the youngsters! The children back then used to consider that as a great wealth and keep them safe so that they could buy some toffee or ice cream later. Now the children are much smarter and know the value of money. No one gives a coin as Kaineettam unless it is gold! Now Kaineettam is given in notes! Children also look forward to collecting it from every elder member of the family including their own brothers and sisters who are to give them from their earnings! So the youngest member will become the richest one in the house!

My cousins who would come on Kerala tour packages from Mumbai during their holidays love this aspect of Vishu a lot. They collect all this money and spend them later on street shopping for jewellery or toys. As for the newly married couples on their Kerala honeymoon packages, this is the perfect time to meet up all the elders of the family and seek their blessings for a happy and prosperous married life. They have to meet and greet the elders with new clothes and Vishukkani for them. That’s the twist in the tale!

Vishu Kani Vili

Those on Kerala tour packages from Delhi will find this ritual quite an amusing one. The Hindu Nair families still follow this ritual early morning on Vishu. Once the members have all seen the Vishukkani, the Karanavar or the elderly male of the family carries the Vishukkani sans the mirror, around the house, shouting “Vishu Kani” so that those in the neighbourhood who could not arrange the Vishukkani can still see the auspicious sight before they start the New Year.

Vishu Kodi

Like Onam, Vishu also has a customary gifting of new clothes to the family members. After seeing the Vishukkani, the family members take a bath and get dressed in new clothes and visit the temple to accept Vishukkani from the temple. These days, even if we are not able to make a Kerala trip during Vishu, we give a few coins to our temple priest so that he would perform some pooja on it and give it back to us for Vishu as Kani.

Vishu Kanji

Though Vishu is celebrated with an elaborate lunch feast prepared and enjoyed with the entire family, some places of Kerala has this tradition of having a Vishu Kanji which is a rice porridge made with coconut and jiggery missed with rice for the breakfast. If you are visiting the Malabar region during your Kerala tour for Vishu you can enjoy the Kanji there. For lunch, dishes made of the fruits such as jackfruit and mango are a must. Typically, the fruits and vegetables kept for Vishukkani are cut and made to tasty dishes and served for the Sadya. For those who are on Kerala tours during Vishu, can book a Sadya at one of the hotels or with famous caterers so that they can enjoy the lavish spread of 25 to 30 items with payasams and various dishes that invigorate every taste bud in your mouth. A finger-licking lunch is guaranteed for Vishu.

 Maattachantha or the Barter Market

This is an interesting market which is rare now. In fact, this is the only market of this kind that runs for a couple of days just before Vishu. Earlier, when we did not have the money system for buying, we used to follow the barter system. If you want a goat, you give away something else you have in return for the goat. Similarly, the Maattachantha used to function for a couple of days at the Siva Temple premises in Chendamangalam. Pottery, Wooden, metal and stone tools and utensils, jute and coir mats, palm mats and various other items that are traditional and rare to get in the markets now are available here even now though the barter system is not followed anymore.

The artisans still continue the tradition and they function this market which is like a flea market where you get some very useful and rare to get items for everyday use. Children on Kerala tour love this market as they get to buy some toy and sugar candy. It closes the day before Vishu as the vendors have to buy items for their Vishu celebration with the money they make here. As if customary, it rains slightly during the Maattachantha though it does not spoil the business. Those on honeymoon packages in Kerala in or near Kochi area can visit this market just before Vishu and get some good bargains on things that they won’t get anywhere else.

The beautiful churches of Kerala that tell some great stories

I have studied in convent schools and have prayed in many churches associated with the schools as well as many others we have visited during school excursions and family tours too. The last church I visited was the St. Joseph’s Church in Mysore a few years back. I still remember the stained glass windows and vents of the churches near our school which have always fascinated me! Let me take you through Holy Kerala tour packages in which I take you to a virtual tour of some of the most famous and beautiful churches I have seen so far in the state. Most of them, as I already told, I have visited during my school and college days. The tall ceilings of the churches with the paintings of bright sky, clouds and angels are still fresh in my memories. What I love the most about Kerala’s churches is that they are open anytime to people of all castes and creed and get your mind to relax, no matter how tensed you are! During our exams we would all pray for 10 minutes in the church near our school and this would strengthen us mentally, to face the exam. We were a group of 5 friends – 2 Hindus, 2 Muslims and a Christian!

We would all pray every day at the church and sometimes the Priest would bless us too for the exams. I still remember some different churches we have seen during our school excursion, though I was rarely allowed to go! The ship-shaped church is one such church I cannot forget in my life. The colourful stained glasses and the beautiful and exotic decorations of the altar always fascinates me even now. There’s a calmness you feel once inside a church which is rare to find outside these days. Though I am not a spiritual person, that calmness can make a huge difference to your thought process. 

After my school days, I have visited churches either during family tours or for friends’ marriages. Where I stay now, am surrounded by at least 8 churches within a 1-km radius in the heart of the city! Let us explore the beautiful and fascinating churches of Kerala on Kerala tourism packages focused on churches. Some of them have a strong bond with the history of our country and some others are so vast and beautiful, you will never forget them once you visit.

My Childhood Memories of Churches

I was born and brought up in North Paravoor, a small town which had 8 to 10 churches within the small radius of around 5 kilometers. Yet they all looked different and had a different feel to remember. I remember walking to my school, passing through the premises of the old Jacobite church which looked more like an old Kerala bungalow with huge wooden pillars and terracotta roof. This church, I later realized, was one of the oldest churches established in Kerala during the 16^th century. It is one of the must-visit churches in Kerala packages for the Christians. I have studied in convent schools and there was this historically famous church which was a part of my school! Or rather, the school was a part of the church! Anyway, this church would be our meeting place during lunch time outside our class and we friends would sit there in the shades talking to each other all through the lunch time. The open ground would be mostly occupied by boys and small children playing various games. This is the church I told earlier where we would pray during our exams.

Kottakavu Church 

As we got older, we learnt more about the church. It was actually a very old temple, which was later turned into a church and we could see the remains, of the old temple or church whatever it was, behind the actual church. I have a faint memory of seeing some old stone pillars there. the inside of the church is extremely beautiful. It is a big church and can easily accommodate 1000 to 1500 people at a time. You must visit this Kottakkavu church in Kerala holiday packages with flexible facilities during your next visit. There’s also this Jewish Synagogue and a couple of other churches in North Paravoor which also you can visit in your Muziris Heritage tours. Most of my friends would tell me they feel so nostalgic passing by the church on their Kerala tour holidays from the cities they are settled now.

Jewish Synagogue 

Ship-shaped church 

I remember visiting the Ship-shaped church in Thrissur when I was in 7^th or 8^th standard! Just the fact that it was shaped like a ship was fascinating enough for us at that time. It will be an amusing visit for your children, during your Kerala tour packages from Mumbai. There’s another church near Thrissur, which gave me great pleasure to just see it.

Bible tower 

When I was very young, we used to visit my grandparents in Trissur quite often and the journey included a boat ride. During those days, when I see this white coloured magnificent church near the boat jetty from where we would get a bus to Trissur, I used to feel happy that we would reach soon! Though I cannot recollect the name of the church and where exactly it is located, I still remember the happiness it gave me! The Bible Tower in Thrissur is definitely a place to visit in your next Kerala tour packages from Delhi. It is the tallest church tower in Asia.

Malayattoor church 

The Malayattoor church is another popular church here which is visited particularly during the Easter festival. The church is located on top of the Malayatoor hill and many devotees walk to the church from nearby areas carrying the holy cross as a repentance to all their sins. The church is located near the Athirappilly waterfalls which is a popular holiday destination for tourists during their trip to Kerala. Pathanamthitta is another place to visit for Christian pilgrimage as the place has some of the oldest and beautiful churches in Kerala.

St. Mary's Orthodox Church 

The St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Niranam is believed to be built in 54 AD and considered one of the oldest churches established in Kerala. There are many famous churches in Kottayam, Changanasseri, Pala, Pathanamthitta areas as there’s a major crowd of Christians settled in this part of Kerala. If you happen to visit Allepey during your Kerala tour, while enjoying the houseboat cruise you will see many beautiful churches by the side of the backwaters, some of which you may be able to recognize in some popular movies also.

Arthungal Church 

Vettukad Church

St. Joseph's Metropolitan Church 

The Arthungal church in Allepey is one such famous church you must visit. If you are visiting Trivandrum, you can visit some famous churches there also during your Kerala tours. The Vettukad Church and the St. Joseph’s Metropolitan Church are 2 famous pilgrim centers to visit while in Trivandrum.

Vallarpadam Church 

St. Francis CSI Church

The shopper’s paradise, Kochi, also has many popular and beautiful churches in the city and in the outskirts. The Vallarpadam church is one of the must-visit churches during your Kerala travel in Kochi. The most famous church in Kochi which has a huge historical importance is the St. Francis CSI Church in Fort Kochi which was built by the Portuguese to establish the religion here. The body of Vasco da Gama was buried here initially.

Jewish Synagogue 

The Paradesi Synagogue or the Jewish Synagogue nearby is another popular destination for the tourists on Exclusive Kerala honeymoon packages with price. There are many churches built in the vicinity by the Portuguese and other earlier explorers like the Santa Cruz Cathedral and the St. George Ferona Church.

Mount Carmel Church 

The Mount Carmel Church in Munnar is another church I faintly remember having visited during one of my rare school excursions. This is one of the oldest churches established in the mountain ranges of Kerala. The church played an important role as an asylum to many people during the flood of 1924. It is often visited by many tourists on their Munnar honeymoon packages in Kerala.

Divine retreat Center 

The Divine retreat centre near Kochi is another famous Christian pilgrim centre which is frequently visited by people belonging to all faiths. The place is famous for providing relief to the troubled minds, people addicted to alcohol and drugs and many other troubles in life. Attending a retreat session here is considered to bring the devotees peace of mind and a completely refreshing experience filled with spirituality and divinity. Many believers visit the Divine retreat centre during their honeymoon packages in Kochi.

The role of Christian missionaries in educating and providing medical facilities in the state is enormous. They have been the inevitable building blocks of the currently educated population of Kerala and in extending the charitable medical treatment to millions of poor and the less privileged section of the state. They continue their charming mission to provide world-class education and medical treatment along with a host of other charitable missions to a large section of the society of Kerala.