From time immemorial, Kerala is a land where people faced social changes abruptly but they took the changes in their stride and accepted the ideologies with equal importance giving rise to heterogeneous cultures...

Early history
It is said that the Dravidians had colonized the south west of India around 1800 BC and they are supposed to have migrated from the Baluchi grasslands on the Iran-Pakistan border via the Indus valley. One myth from the distant age is the story of Parasurama, the legendary king of Kerala. As a reward for defeating the kshatriyas, it is said that the god of oceans, Varuna and the goddess of the earth, Bhumidevi granted a boon to Parasurama that he could encompass as much land as he could with a throw of his axe from Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India’s mainland. It is said from the place where the axe fell, the waters receded and Parasurama’s country was formed. Parasurama is the axe yielding sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the legendary founder of Kerala.

Maritime trade in the Malabar coast which began in the first century BC increased rapidly and Ay kings were the first dynasties to emerge as overlords in the region and their domain from the Kuttanad region to the tip of India. At this early age, its said Jainism and Buddhism were the prominent religions but by the the 3rd century BC Hinduism regained strength. Christianity came into Kerala by AD 52 after the arrival of St Thomas and Islam came with the advent of Malik Ibn Dinar in AD 643. The Chera kings were the rulers from AD 800 till AD 1102. After the fall of the Chera kings, the local kings that is, the Zamorins of Kozhikode, the Raja of Cochin, the Kolathiris of Kannur and the King of Travancore established their supremacy. By the end of the 15th century, the Zamorin had half of Malabar under his rule.

Portuguese Invasion
It was at this time Vasco Da Gama discovered the sea route to the spice land of Kerala. Subsequently, Portuguese requested trading rights from the Zamorin but he declined so they allied with the Raja of Cochin. The second visit of Vasco Da Gama was more aggressive as the Zamorin did not agree to their request of expelling the Arab traders who were his counterparts both in trading as well as in providing troops for the military campaigns. This resulted in a fierce attack on Calicut and later the Portuguese signed the treaty of trading rights with the Raja of Cochin. This infuriated the Zamorin who attacked Cochin but the Portuguese squadron reinstated the Cochin Raja and thus Portuguese supremacy was established for the next 150 years.

Dutch Invasion
The Dutch entered the scenario and formed an alliance with the Zamorin in 1604. They were quick to invade Cochin and Cannanore and had control of these erstwhile states by 1663. The Dutch era was terrible for the Catholics and they were persecuted endlessly. The Dutch were weakened with their wars with England. It was at this juncture that the British East India company entered into the trading agreement with the Zamorin in 1625.

Muslim Invasion
The first Muslim invasion came from the ruler of Mysore, Hyder Ali, with the help of Ali Raja of Cannanore. Hyder Ali’s supremacy was established in 1766 and Ali Raja was made the governor. Hyder Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan and the Muslim supremacy continued with recession in trade and wealth was carted to Mysore coffers. However, the English defeated Tipu Sultan in the Battle of Srirangapatnam.

British Rule
By 1793 East India company was in control of Malabar. By early 19th century, India was in the hands of the British hierarchy and here in Kerala, the Rajas had nominal control while the major decisions were left to the East India Company. After the British victory at Srirangapatnam, the Madras Presidency was established consolidating the southern territory as a single unit. Kerala was divided into Malabar, Cochin and Travancore. In Cochin and Travancore the rajas retained their royal houses but the British resident-dewan was the chief revenue collector and responsible for law and order. Malabar was directly ruled by the British.The English rule gave birth to industrial revolution, educational development and technological advances. In Kerala, revolts against the British rule came from Paliyath Achan of Cochin, Raja of Kottayam, Veluthampi of Travancore and Kurichya of Wynad but these were easily squashed as the British were much better equipped. Notable among the above were the Pazhassi revolts. The Pazhassi Raja took refuge in the jungles and masterminded the guerilla insurrection against the British rule but eventually he was shot dead. The ‘Moppila Lahala’ of 1921 was another campaign against the British rule which resulted in many deaths and the ‘Wagon Tragedy’.

After India attained independence, Travancore and Cochin were merged, while Malabar became a part of the Madras state. Nine years later, the States reorganization Act of 1956 combined all three, whose boundaries were formed on linguistic basis and the Malayalam speaking areas came under Kerala. Thus the present state of Kerala was established in November, 1956. Trivandrum was designated as the capital. In 1957, general elections were held and Kerala became the first state to elect a communist government under the leadership of EMS Namboodhiripad. Today it’s a state active on India’s political scenario and has a number of political parties representing the lay people.

Culture

Kerala, Gods Own Country is a haven of rich cultural heritage handed down from the Dravidian and Aryan influences as well from the foreign invasions and their overseas traditions. All this has given this emerald strip of land a vibrant and unique culture. The rulers of Kerala were patrons of art and culture. They preserved their glory by promoting various cultural forms in the state. The state has contributed in upholding the cultural integration of India. Kerala’s culture cannot be confined to a specific race or a custom, its composite in nature with its religious traditions, festivals, performing arts (dances, ballets, opera) music, martial arts, paintings, arts and crafts, The cultural heritage of Kerala is also revealed in its varied costumes and cuisine...

Religious traditions
Though it was an ancient land of Hinduism, today it’s a land of many religions like Christianity, Islam and Jewish. The cultures of these religions are strewn together to form the distinctive culture of this state. Each religion preserves it heritage and people of all faiths live together amiably and respect each others customs.

Festivals
It’s a land of fairs and festivals. The Onam festival is celebrated by all Malayalees irrespective of caste and creed. The grand water carnival of snake boat races is unique to Kerala. All festivals are celebrated with much vigor and enthusiasm in the state.

Performing Arts
Kerala is world-famous for its performing arts, which is an interesting combination of music, dance, mythology and theater. The classical dances in Kerala are Mohiniattam, Koodiyattam and Kathakali. Koodiyattam, the one thousand year old classical dance drama is regarded as one of the earliest traditions in theatre across the world. Although Koodiyattam is the oldest, Kerala owes its transnational fame to Kathakali, the classical dance drama combining facets of ballet, opera, masque and the pantomime. The traditional ritual arts in Kerala include Mudiyettu, Theyyam and Kummattikkali.

Music
Musical culture of Kerala is also vibrant. The classical music in Kerala is based on raag-taal and has resemblance to the Karnatic Sangeet. The traditional folk songs are sung on the social occasions such as childbirth and marriages. There are also some devotional songs such as Maripattu and Ayyappanpattu, which are rendered along with playing of the string and wind instruments. The various forms of music in Kerala include Mappila Pattukal, Christian Songs, Instrumental Music, Swathi Thirunal Kritis, Sopana Sangeetham, and Folk Music etc. Apart from these, there are lot of Christian songs that describe the life and deeds of St. Thomas.

Martial Arts
Kerala is renowned for its varied martial arts. Amongst the many forms of martial arts of Kerala are Kalaripayattu, Parisa Kali, Velakanni, Valeru, Kunderu and Njaninmel Kali.

Paintings
Kerala’s art of painting is distinguished from other parts of the country. The murals in temples, palaces and churches are very much fascinating. The state boasts its rich style of oil paintings. Kerala boasts its singular art forms of floor paintings and drawings (Kalamezhuthu).

Arts and Crafts
Kerala’s art and crafts are noted for their unique style, perfection of forms and elegance of designs. These are inseparable parts of the life streams of Kerala’s culture. Kerala is renowned for its carvings in rosewood and sandalwood. Other works of exquisite art are Cast Bell Metal Work, Jewellery, Granite Idols, Pillars, Coir, Coconut Shell products.

Costume
The traditional costumes of Kerala are ‘mundu’ and ‘neriyathu’, for both men and women. Saree and blouse also form the traditional costume of Kerala women. The traditional ‘kasavu’ mundu and sarees is a rich cultural specimen whose simple yet glamorous look has coveted the hearts of many. Today modern costumes are in vogue but traditional dress codes in festivities and functions enliven the Kerala costume.

Cuisine
Kerala's cuisine is an integral part of its culture. Rice and fish are the staple food of Kerala. Coconut in its various forms is the major ingredient in the daily meal. Seasoning with curry leaves is another special feature of Malayalee cooking. Seafood is very popular in Kerala. Coffee, tea and buttermilk are the popular drinks in Kerala. There is a wide range of mouth watering vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes which is sure to be a sumptuous treat to anyone visiting Kerala. Thus, it can be seen that the rich and varied culture is sprinkled with ingredients from all communities residing in every nook and corner of this state and the end result is a delightful legacy. In its totality, the culture of Kerala represents the quintessence of the heritage and traditions handed over from time immemorial and its continued patronage by the rulers. The cultural map of Kerala is alive with vibrant hues and is a repertoire of rich heritage.

People

A myriad of racial strains have passed through Kerala and have left behind an example of coexistence amidst trials. The people of Kerala are known as 'Malayalees' (people speaking the language Malayalam) or Keralites (people residing in Kerala). People of Kerala belong to different ethnic groups and religions. Starting right from the Dravidians, to the foreign races such as the Arabs, Dutch, Portuguese and British and the convertees all have been part of the racial mix...

As in the case of rest of South India, majority of the people of this state are also Dravidians. However, anthropologists cite that there were other races in Kerala prior to the arrival of Dravidians. Negritos, Australoids, and even Aryans were some of the earlier races prevalent in Kerala.

Negritos :
Negritos or people of the Negroid race were the earliest known inhabitants of Kerala . Members of this race lived by hunting and by gathering plants and fruits. They were dark skinned with tightly curled brown hair and were less than 1.5 metres tall. Descendants of this race still inhabit the remote mountain regions of the state. The major tribes who inhabit the mountains of Kerala are Kanis, Uralis, Kadar, Kanikkar, Paniyar etc. They are considered to be the descendants of the Negrito race. They have a good knowledge of herbal medicine and are skilled in interpreting natural phenomena.

Australoids :
Australoids are synonymous to the present day Australian Aborigines. It is said that this race spread over whole of India. They were of medium height with dark complexion, long heads and flat noses. They introduced the cultivation of rice and vegetables and made sugar from sugarcane. Snake worship was introduced by them.

Dravidians :
Dravidians were the next race who followed suit. Dravidians are the race who migrated from the Mediterranean region or the Baluchi grasslands. By 700 B.C. the Dravidians spread in the south of India. They imbibed many of the traditions of the Negrito and Austric people, but they were strongly inclined to the worship of the Mother Goddess in all her myriad forms as Protector, Avenger, Bestower of wealth, wisdom and arts.

Aryans :
The Aryan tribe had already settled in north India. They migrated to south India during 300 B.C. It is believed that the fair-skinned Brahmins belonged to this race. Caste system was brought to this land by the Aryans who considered themselves superior.

The vast majority of Keralites carry three racial strains in their genetic make-up namely Aryan, Dravidian and Australoids. However, the tribal population is mainly considered to be the successors of the Negroid clan.

Hinduism was the principal religion and had many sub castes. The Brahmins and Namboodiris were the higher royal castes who had very staunch customs. The Nairs were the ones who followed the unique matriarchal system that brought Kerala women into the limelight. Its not only the Hindus who make the people of Kerala. The Jews came here in about 587 BC and still there is a small Jewish population in the heart of Fort Kochi. Christianity has a long history in this state, as it is believed that the first missionary from Europe landed on the coast of Kerala in the first millennium. The Syrian Christians were the followers of St Thomas. They followed his teachings, renounced their early religion and traditions and embraced Christianity. Muslim conversion took place after the arrival of Malik Ibn Dinar, a disciple of prophet Mohammed. Muslims were not however new to the shores of Kerala as the Arab traders were Muslims and they had a very amiable relation with the Kerala rulers. Muslim population is found all over Kerala though its more concentrated in northern Kerala. Today, this land is a land of many religions with temples, mosques, churches and synagogues all centred cohesively.

Kerala’s people have achieved the distinction being the only fully literate state in India. Literacy has resulted in a highly aware society and high health care. Educated malayalees have established their presence in every upcoming field of information technology, health care, education and space science both within the country and in the world. Kerala has provided some well known writers, cartoonists, singers and dancers to India. The women in the state enjoy high social status mainly due to the historical matrilineal system where by property etc were transferred to females. Higher education and equal opportunities have further strengthened women's status in Kerala's society.

The Keralites are akin to an ethnological museum because its population is an amalgamation of various races, religions and ethnic groups. The people of Kerala are simple, hardworking and humble people. They are very fiercely protective about their religion and ancient practices. They are proud preservers of their culture and their lifestyle too is uncomplicated. They have a warm welcoming attitude to visitors and consider their guests equivalent to God literally following the Sanskrit saying,’Athithi Devo Bhava’.

Climate

Often referred to as the tropical paradise, Kerala’s climate is tropical and equable in nature. This is mainly because it lies in the tropical region. It is heavily influenced by the seasonal heavy rains brought by the monsoon. Kerala’s average maximum daily temperature is around 36.7 °C; the minimum is 19.8 °C...

During the summer season, which lasts from April to June, temperatures hover around 33°C. It is hot and humid during this season. The south west monsoon arrives in June and continues till September. Rain erupts with the massive storm that sweeps off from the Arabian Sea. July is usually a time of heavy downpour. So, from June until September Kerala experiences very wet yet hot conditions. The retreating monsoon with the prevailing winds from the north east lasts from October to end of November. This is the second annual rainfall lighter than its predecessor. Winter in Kerala lasts from December to February. With the arrival of winter there is certain drop in the temperature and you can feel a slight chill due to the cold wind. Its only in the hilly regions of the Idukki district that warm clothing maybe required in winter. In other parts the climate is pleasant during this time and people are relieved of the humid weather.

Kerala's rains are mostly the result of seasonal monsoons. The rainforest areas of the state have humid tropical wet climate while the extreme eastern fringes experience a drier tropical wet and dry climate .Kerala receives an average annual rainfall of 3107 mm. Parts of Kerala's lowlands may receive an average of only 1250 mm rainfall annually while the cool mountainous eastern highlands of Idukki district — comprising Kerala's wettest region receives more than 5,000 mm. In summers, most of Kerala is prone to gale-force winds, storm surges, and torrential downpours accompanying dangerous cyclones coming in from the Indian Ocean.

Even though Kerala is a year round destination, the best time to visit Kerala is ideally between December and February when the skies are clear and there’s least humidity. Beach holiday is not recommended during the rainy seasons because of the high tides and crashing waves. However, the monsoon season is the best time to undergo Ayurvedic treatments. Of late, monsoon tourism in Kerala is becoming the novelty. Its an enthralling feel to revel in the showers amidst lush green surroundings.The intoxicating smell of the dry earth getting drenched, the splashing waters and the tiny paper boats sailing on, all go a long way to bring out the child in you to crave to go out and get drenched in the drizzle.

Costume

Kerala's people are very simple, and this innate simplicity is reflected in their costumes. The traditional costumes of Kerala are simple and decent. Women of Kerala are not loaded with make-up. ‘Mundu’ and ‘neriathu’ are the traditional dresses for both men and women of Kerala. Saree and blouse is another popular traditional costume for the women of Kerala. On the special occasions and festivals, it has an ornamental ‘kara’ with copper, golden coated or artificial coloured designs of peacock or temple. The costumes are also to a large extent guided by the geographical conditions of the region. With the changing trends in fashion and designing, the dress codes have changed. A multitude of colours and designs are available today. Men and women today are clad in a variety of dresses...

Lets have a look into the traditional attire of the people of Kerala.
Traditional Attire of Men:

Mundu
Mundu is a 3-4 meter long piece of cloth worn by men in Kerala that is tied to the waist and let down till the ankle. It is the simplest form of dressing prevailing in the world. Cotton Dhotis (Mundu) are used for normal wearing, but for wedding purposes mundu with Kasavukara are used. The Kasavukara refers to the border done in gold thread. ‘Kaily’ or ‘lungy’ is the informal dress for men. While going outdoors, the men wear shirt and mundu along with a small neriyathu on the shoulder .The style of the Muslims wearing mundu is quite different from that of the Hindus and Christian Keralites.

Jubba
The men in Kerala wear a full sleeved dress called the jubba which is worn together with the mundu.The jubba is worn only on selected occasions. Jubbas in modern days have been embellished with embroidery works. The materials used are cotton, silk and khadi.

Traditional Attire of Women:

Mundu Set
It is a form of sari in two sets worn with a blouse. The set mundu is available in sandal wood color or white color with silk border or colored border. It is worn in the same fashion of a sari, but without pleats in the front. . The women wear a special type of blouse on the top of the mundu. The blouse covers the navel. The neriyathu is worn over the blouse and its one end is tucked inside the mundu, and the other long end is worn across the front torso. It resembles the sari. The colour of the blouse used to be associated with age and marital status of the woman. Unmarried, young girls wore the green blouse while the red blouse was worn by the married women.

Sari
Sari is the official dress in various ceremonies like wedding, engagement and during various festivals in Kerala. It is a 5 meter long cloth, worn by pleats in the centre and is worn with a small blouse. Kerala sarees in sandalwood colour with exquisite kasavu work is a replica of Kerala’s age old culture. Kerala's saree market is highly lucrative with sarees like Kancheepuram Silk, Banaras Silk and Sarees decorated with traditional works, zardosi work, sequins work, thread work and embroidery work.

Full Skirt and Long Blouse
The full skirt with long blouse was the traditional teenage dress of Malayalee girls. Today, however its clad on festive occasions. On ceremonial occasions and festival days the long skirt with pleats and kasavu border with front or back open blouse is worn.

Half Saree
The half saree that was worn earlier consisted of a full skirt, short blouse and a‘davani’ (shawl) and saree blouse. With the advent of the North Indian fashion on a large scale in Kerala, the half saree dress is seldom seen in any part of Kerala. The variation in dressing styles is visible in people of different religions and castes also.

Christians
The clothes of Christians were relatively similar to those worn by the other communities. The male Christians dressed in the usual Dhoti and Shirt. The traditional attire for men is Kasavu Mundu. It is today popular only in the rural areas. It is 3-4 meter long cotton twin cloth with a ‘kara’or border. The Christian woman wore a white mundu about seven yards in length and 1 ¼ yards in breadth with a fan like frill at the back. They used to cover the upper part of the body with full or half sleeved white blouses called 'Chatta'. While going out, they threw over their shoulders and bosom another piece of cloth called ‘Kavani’. The women took great interest to beautify the Kavani with embroidery works. Chela (Sari) and blouse were used by the Nadar and Latin Christians.

Muslims
The Muslims have an entirely different dressing culture. According to their religious concept only the women’s face and palms should be visible in front of outsiders. In olden days they wore a piece of white cloth called ‘Kachimundu’. It didn’t have a silk border but blue and purple coloured borders. It covered them from waist to ankle. They covered their head with a piece of cloth called as Thattam. But in the very olden days it was called as ‘Patturumala’. Both cotton and silk material were used for this. The upper part was covered by a long blouse (shirt like without collars) with full sleeves. This type of dress was known as Kachi and Thattam. The Mappilla men’s ordinary dress was mundu or cloth generally with white or purple border or orange, green or plain white. It is tied on the left (Hindus tie it on the right) and kept in position by a waist string to which are attached one or more elassus (small cylinders) of gold, silver or baser metal, containing texts from the Koran or magic chants. They used shirt along with mundu. A small cap of white or white & black is very commonly worn and round this an ordinary turban or some bright coloured scarf may be tied.

Hindus
The men wore a very simple dress that consisted of two pieces of unstitched white cloth. The ‘mundu’ and the ‘neriyathu’. This dress was clad in different styles by the people of the different castes.

The Namboodiris
The Namboodiri men wore a very simple dress that consisted of two pieces of unstitched white cloth. They dressed themselves in what is called Tattudukkuka, i.e., a cloth six or seven feet long tied around the waist, passed between the thighs and tucked in at the front and back, with the front portion arranged in pleats. The second cloth was thrown over the shoulders called the Melmundu. The Namboodiri’s mundu was always white in color like the other castes, but had a gold border that distinguished them from the other castes. Many castes in old days apparently used to wear blue clothes, but white is now practically universal. The Namboodiri men wore a wooden slipper called Methiyyadi. They apply the sandal paste on their brows and chest. It endowed them with a dignified look. The Namboodiri women were seen in a dress called the Pudava, that was a cloth 7 ½ feet in length and about 2 feet in breadth. One end of the cloth was passed between the legs and fixed in the waist at the back, while the other end was wrapped around. This style was also known as Tattudukkuka.

Nayar, Kshatriya and Ambalavasi
Their traditional dress also consisted of Mundu, or Neriyathu (an upper cloth). The women belonging to these communities used to wear a Pudava or Onnarramundu in Tattudukkuka style. The upper part of the body was left bare. The Nayar women in Travancore were allowed to dress as they pleased by a Royal Proclamation in 1865.

Avarnas
Ezhavas, Pulayas and Parayans consisted of this group. Their dresses were mainly of a short loin cloth. In the very ancient times, the Thanta Pulaya and Nayadi used to wear leafy garments. And it was the common practice among the Avarnas to leave the upper part of the body bare both among the males and females.

With changing trends, dress codes too have changed and the modern Kerala society is attired in modern outfits. The Keralite men are seen in modern T-shirts, and trousers or jeans. The women also prefer to wear churidar kurta as well as jeans-top.Yet, on festive occasions and functions the traditional wear in all its simple grandeur is a befitting example of the culture of Kerala. Even tourists visiting the state like to wear the traditional dress of Kerala and often shop for the exquisite ‘Kasavu mundu ‘and ‘Kasavu saree’ or Kerala set saree as memoirs of the enchanting land.