Happy kerala Piravi Day
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Kerala, a state situated on the tropical Malabar coast of southwestern India, is one of the most popular tourist destination in the country.
“Kerala Piravi“- The state of Kerala was originated on November 1, 1956. it was formed long after the Indian Independence on 15 August 1947. Earlier to that date, it was divided into three independent provinces named Malabar, Cochin an Travancore which were merged with Tamil Nadu and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara. Kerala got its name after the first ruler, keralian Thamboran, who ruled one of the independent canton. The earliest Sanskrit word to denote Kerala by name is the Aitareya Aranuaka of the Rigveda. But according to Hindu mythology, the land of Kerala got back from the sea by the axe- wielding warrior sage parasurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu and hence, Kerala is also called Parasurama Kshetram(“The Land Of Parasurama”). Parasurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water moved back as far as it reached. Keralam has been used by most scholars, where “Kera“= “coconut” and “Alam”= “land” , so the land of coconuts which further formed as Kerala. It was named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler. Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism capability and beautiful backwater.
On this day, malayayees used to say
“Ellarkum ende sneham nirannya Kerala peeravi ashamsakal
(or)
Ente hridayam niranja Kerala piravi ashamsakal“
which means Heartfelt Kerala Piravi wishes to everyone. Schools and colleges may be the major setting for celebrating Kerala Piravi. They may dress up in traditional Kerala dress like Kerala sari or sattu mundu for women and dhoti and shirt for men. They tend to celebrate the semantic heritage of Kerala through Malayalam language competitions, recitations, elocution contests, reading competitions, debates, quizzes and skits.
This day was not only celebrated in Kerala but also in other states of India especially in the middle east (Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, etc…) where a large concentration of keralites live, international and Indian schools will celebrate or commemorate this day.
M.Nasreen
