My Travel

**Perfection** · 08-17-2009, 12:41 AM

St Mary's Forane church, Pallipuram is located 10 km away from Cherthala in Alapuzha Dt of Kerala, India. The festival of Mother Mary is celebrated on 15 August. The markets mainly the meat market selling pork is worth visiting.

The specialties of the church include - The first church made by St Thomas in India, Miraculous painting of Mother Mary and infant Jesus by St Luke (located at the second level in the 16th century Portuguese made wooden altar and Wooden cross supposed to be made by St Thomas. The cross has be thrown in the Vembanad backwaters by miscreants and later discovered near Mattel church.

Blessed Fr Chavara Kuriakose was vicar of the church. The baptistery of his time is located near the 150 year old seminary building. One can see old inscriptions related to the church and ancient well used by Fr Malpan, founder of CMI sect.

Festival Videos

Pallipuram church festival
Pallipuram church procession
Live brutal killing

**Perfection** · 08-24-2009, 02:02 PM

Athachamayam

Location : Tripunithura, Kochi, Kerala, India

Atham (23 Aug 2009) in the Malayalam month of Chingam is the starting of the Onam festivities. Chingam is the auspicious day for marriages. In Guruvaayur temple, there were 123 marriages on the Atham day. Onam is the Kerala's state festival. On the Onam day, Karanavar (eldest member of the family) presents new cloths to all members of the family. Atham was celebrated in Thripunithura even during time of Cochin Kingdom. Maharaja (king) himself accompanied with all his entourage during the cultural procession. The procession during the old times traveled up to the Thrikkakara Vamanamurthy temple and Maharaja offered prayers there.

Thrikkakara Vamanamurthy temple : It is one of the oldest temples in India having 18 stone inscriptions of 10 to 13 AD. It is the only temple in India, which is dedicated to Vamana (Thrikkakara Appan), the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The main festival days of the temple are Atham and Onam.

Onasadya (Great Onam lunch)

The Athachamayam 2009 was inaugurated by Home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan at Boys High school ground near the Private bus stand, Tripunithua. The procession was started at 11.00 am. The route was via Private bus stand, turned right at the statue, then turned left at junction near church and entered the town via Sree Poornathrayeesa temple (Lord Vishnu) and statue. The procession ended at the Boys school ground around 1 pm.

On 1960 onwards, State government organizes the procession. The secular cultural procession is of caparisoned elephants, temple art forms like Kathakali, Theyyam, Ammankudam, Pulikali, Padayani etc. Chendamelam, Panchavadyam etc can be enjoyed during this occasion. Thiruvathira, Mohiniyattam, Ottamthullal, Kalaripayattu, Karate, king Mahabali, Vamana, Kavadiyattom, Mayil kavadi, Peacock dance, etc were in the procession. Numerous floats depicts the contemporary social situations is also exhibited.

The same day (Atham) a boat race is organizes at Eroor Champakkara canal near Vytila at 3 pm. It also attracts a large number of race enthusiasts.

How to Reach

Tripunithura Railway station is 1 km from town. It is well connected by bus service from Kochi city (10 km). Hill Palace museum is the main tourist attraction of the fortified Royal city. Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple is nearby.

Athachamayam Video 1 || Video 2 || Video 3 || Tableau
St Mary's church & Onam flowers

Pulikali dance video

**Perfection** · 09-04-2009, 04:03 AM

Theyyam is a temple art form (dance) practiced mainly in Malabar (north) region of Kerala. In Palakkad, it is called pootham, while in Kozhikode it is called thira. It is called theyyam in Kannur. The main types of Theyyam are Bappiryan theyam, Khandakarnan theyyam, Kathivannoor veeran theyyam, Mari theyyam, Paradevatha, gulikan, Kali, kuttichatthan, muthappan, Kadavankkott makkam etc. Theyyam is the regional form of god. The person who dances vigorously is supposed to have divine powers and the devotees express their problem and get solutions. Rice powder, ash, turmeric powder etc are used to give colors to face. A huge crown like crown is also worn. Anklets are worn by the dancers. Tender coconut leaves are used to decorating the head dress.

Pookkalam (circular flower arrangement) competition is another main attraction of the festival.

Video 1 >> Video 2

A trade fare selling home made food items and cloths is also organised as part of the festival. A circus, death well and few joy rides were fun for the visitors.

**Perfection** · 09-04-2009, 04:43 AM

Haritholsavam 2009 (Agricultural and Horticultural Exhibition) was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India with the support of Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala and National Horticulture Board at the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market (EEC Market) at Maradu in Kochi from 28th - 31st Aug 2009.

Video 1 >> Video 2

**Perfection** · 09-04-2009, 05:18 AM

Panangad boat race was organised on 30 Aug 2009 (16 km from Kochi city in Kerala). Eight churulan boats participated in the race. Churulan boats are small compared to the Chundan valloms. A churulan boat can accommodate 30 to 35 rowers. Two boats lost balance and drowned during the race. The rowers managed to recover the boat and clear the water inside the boat using drums. St. Sebastian boat becomes winner in the Vallomkali.

Video 1 Video 2

**Perfection** · 09-06-2009, 02:23 AM

Beypore port (harbour) is one of the oldest ports in Kerala from where trading was done to the Middle East. Beypore is also famous for building wooden ship, it is called Urus in Malayalam language. These ships are usually bought by Arab merchants for trading, fishing and now used as a tourist ships.

Chaliyar Puzha which is the fourth longest river in the Kerala state flows through this village. Beypore is 12 km from Kozhikode city in Kerala. The beach has two pulimuts (sea bridges) extending a km to sea, protecting the ships entering the harbour.

The video shows navigational equipments on board. The National Institute of Oceanography (NIOT), Chennai research ship Sagar Manjusha is anchored here.

**Perfection** · 09-06-2009, 10:46 AM

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is 19 km from Kozhikode is home to more than a hundred varieties of native birds and over 60 species of migratory birds like Terns, Gulls, Herons, Sandpipers, Whim brels etc. The ideal season to visit is from November to April in the early hours of the day. From the Kadalundi railway station, beach is at walkable distance.

Video

**Perfection** · 09-06-2009, 10:50 AM

Mookkannoor St Mary's church near Angamaly (Ernakulam district) has a beautiful gilded wooden altar.

Video

**Perfection** · 10-10-2009, 03:48 PM

Kottayam, Tazhathangady boat race was on 5 Sept '09 at 3 pm. Four Chundan, 4 Iruttukuthy and 5 Churulan boats participated in the thrilling boat race (vallom kali).

Videos

The Start >> Boat Race >> Chundan vallom's Semi Final
Race in Progress >> Winner's Final

**Perfection** · 10-10-2009, 03:52 PM

Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna temple is famous for the palpayasam. Pulluvan pattu (serpent pleasing song using a string instrument - pulluvan kudam) is an offering in Sree Krishna temple, Ambalapuzha in Alapuzha district. The temple is 13 km from Alapuzha, 2 km from NH 47.

Pulluvan Pattu video