[www.keralites.net] Why Kerala is God’s Own Country

Why Kerala is God's Own Country The southwest monsoon is almost over. It is green everywhere.  The sun smiles again in 'God's Own Country' and it is time for Onam.  There is festive cheer all around.  This, I feel is the best time to pack your bags and head out to Kerala. There is a smile on almost every person's face.  To the older generation, it is perhaps the only time when the entire family comes together under the same roof.  To the kids, it is time for gifts and outings. Every shopkeeper has a huge grin on his face and goes way out of his normal self to come up with 'Onam special discounts.'  The general feel-good aura makes you happy too. And if you are a shopaholic, trust me, you will end up spending more on the 'typical' Kerala handicrafts than you thought you would. Festivals in Kerala are colourful and vibrant. Onam season gives every traveller memories to take home.  There is a rush of adrenalin with sports like snake boat races and tug-of-wars. Suddenly, around the bend, you can hear the beats of the drums and folk dances like the tiger dances and Kummati on the streets. There is beauty in symmetry with floral carpets adorning most houses, offices and street corners. The state-sponsored festivals and tourism promotion events showcase the best art forms and festivities.  And for me, it is time to meet up with cousins who come home just for this season. Ah! The Snake Boat races! Most of them are in and around Alappuzha (Alleppey) – well-connected by bus and train, but if you are planning to fly in, Ernakulam (Cochin) about 85kms away is your nearest spot.  My colleague Clint Thomas has written about the Nehru Trophy boat race, the most popular one. If you are feeling bad you missed it, you could always catch some of the not so famous ones during this season.  A local news paper or a chat with a chaiwala on the wayside is also a good way to know if there are races on schedule locally. Ernakulam is one of the happening places this season. The commercial capital of the state becomes the shopping capital. Tripunithura just outside the city is a transformed place these ten days. The 'Athachamayam' festivities make this sleepy little town a hub of culture.  The procession on the last day of the festival is spectacular (watch video).  For those religion-oriented, the ancient Thrikkakkara temple on the outskirts of the city is a must visit.  The temple has some unique traditions associated with the festival. Flower carpets are a common sight across the state.  In the good old days, when flowers were aplenty, each household used to compete with the neighbor's and come up with designs, in a battle for uniqueness. No festival is complete without a spread of mouth-watering delicacies. Onam is not different – there is the traditional Onam sadya on offer. It brings out the best of the Malayali kitchen.  The hotels copy the tradition with "packages" of native cuisine. And this may be the main reason why I am heading home.  Or is it a bit of all of the above, I wonder.  Anyway, my bags are packed and I am off to my hometown.