Kerala

The second pic is the traditional snake boat (chundan vallom) race in the backwaters, probably in the town of Alappuzha (know as the Venice of the east). These boats can go real fast, and were part of the Kerala's kings' navy. They have special songs (vanchi pattu) that you sing on the boat so as to maintain the rythm and synchronization of the rowing. Nowadays, these boats are used purely for sport.

The third and fouth pics show the style of buildings in Kerala. They are far too grand to be the average home, but the tiled roofing is extremely common in warm humid Kerala.

The last pic is the typical Kerala backwater scene. The coast is thickly covered by coconut palms pushing into the backwaters for better reach of sunlight. It is fun trying to climb one of these without any ropes.

Let me see if i can get some pics of people from Kerala - you gotto see the lungis to believe them!

queer · June 24, 2001, 11:02am

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/4/banana.jpg

A banana shop, the seller, a kid and two nuns. (check out the scottist-kilt like lungis)

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/4/boat.jpg

A boat house in the backwaters. The tastiest food you can get is cooked on these boats.

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/4/jackfruit.jpg

This tropical jackfruit is pure joy to the mouth, and is abundant in summer in Kerala.

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/4/kalari.jpg

Kerala’s martial art form - kalari payattu.

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/4/kathakali.jpg

One of Kerala’s dance forms - Kathakali.

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/4/onam.jpg

Kerala’s harvest festival - Onam.

khan_sahib · June 24, 2001, 11:12am

Nice Pics

Thanks for sharing with us.

I must admit that people from Kerala are very friendly and smiling most of the time.

waleed · June 24, 2001, 11:54am

nice picsssssssssssssss by the way karalaaa
r niceeeeeeeee and carway thats y i like them so leave them alone

'Hate your enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day' - Hadith
'as for those who are slain in the cause of allah, he will not allow their work to perish ... he will admit them to the paradise he has made known to them' - Surah 47:7

who-me · June 24, 2001, 1:18pm

looks like a very rich culture!!.....

so what are rules for that i'll-jump-and-slash-you-with-my-sword game. Is blood involved, I mean is it a serious fight or just a cultural dance like thing.

who-me · June 24, 2001, 1:28pm

http://amritha.freeyellow.com/

**
KALARI PAYATT - One of the temple arts in South India, is a unique blend of physical, mental and spiritual practices to bring about an upheaval in man by using his basic instincts dormant deep in him to a higher level thereby realizing the Eternal through a scientific and systematic way.

Kalari - a type of gymnasium built according to the vastushasthra giving each devathas (subtle beings or higher beings) its particular place. In the southwest corner kalari there is a poothara (an altar) with seven steps representing seven female powers including Bhadra Kali, and a Shiva linga on its top. Poojas are performed to enhance the student’s bhakthi (love). And action performed with bhakthi will increase his concentration, which makes him proficient rapidly. This art includes seven shasthras (sciences) like Vastu, Jyothi, Marma, Ayurveda, Asana, Tantra and Mantra.

History : In 4th century A.D Bodhi Dharma a Buddhist monk spread Kalari payatt to China. This art reached its zenith in the 16 the century under different small kingdoms.

Myths: It is believed that sage Parasurama who built temples along south India introduced this art.

Causes of its degradation : Kalari payatt was banned by British in 1793. Secrecy is maintained in regard to many things , because of selfishness due to narrow view point (involves own relatives ,castes, politics, religion etc.) Or because of the incompetency of man to pursue it properly.

Culmination: Psychic powers invoked by using certain mantras was also used to fight against the enemy, called choondu marma (Choondu means to index, they can even transfer subtle powers through their index finger pointing it to the major marmas, through which enemy can be made motionless) was mastered in the past is now totally ignored because of its tough practices.

Gurukkal (Teacher): Gurukkal will be having thorough knowledge about marmas. Apart from physical training he also receives moral training from his teacher, includes how to guide students, and how to behave towards patients and peoples.
**

Impressive! .. I wonder why martial arts stop at the border of punjab (pakistan?).

cat-woman · June 24, 2001, 1:31pm

cool! I know someone from there as well.

Anchal · June 24, 2001, 5:23pm

I know a DIOD from kerala myself

pretty neat n funny person ;-)
dunno why he always gets misunderstood

Rudra · June 24, 2001, 5:58pm

HeY Im from Palghat Kerala!

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

)

Do you know, Kerala is known world over as “God’s own country” or paradise on earth?

I guess these pics offer some justification for that title

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

nia_khan · June 24, 2001, 6:18pm

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif

i cant help laughing either hehe :0

beautiful place in btw..

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

interesting culutre too…

NaikLarki · June 24, 2001, 6:29pm

I fell in love with Kerala after reading “God of small things”. Arundhati painted such a beautiful picture of this place in that book that ever since i have read it i long to visit the place. May be one day…inshallah:)

Anchal, i wonder if you have seen that DIOD in his orange lungi…lemme post his pic:)

Here he is with his paaltoo haathi and wearing his famous orange lungi…

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/4/diod2.jpg

Rudra · June 24, 2001, 6:42pm

[quote]
Originally posted by who---me:
**looks like a very rich culture!!.....

so what are rules for that i'll-jump-and-slash-you-with-my-sword game. Is blood involved, I mean is it a serious fight or just a cultural dance like thing.**
[/quote]

Hey , ppl say that Kalaripayattu was the origin of Karate in Japan and China,,, so its definitely not just a cultural thingy...

Cheers Rudra