Utsavam - The Kerala Arts Festival (19 Dec 2010 - 27 Feb 2011)

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It is a stage that gets bigger by presence…

It is an event that gets noticed due to its variety and it is a cultural feast that is Kerala's very Own – Utsavam 2010-2011!

In 14 Districts

2010 Dec 19 - 2011 Feb 27

About 364 Programmes... More than 79 art forms... Around 1000 artistes

Be a part of this lavish cultural feast, spread all over Kerala!

On a broad stage called Kerala Theatre, the traditional folk, tribal and classical art forms are many and mesmerizing. It is a delightful experience to witness these art forms in its authentic style, presented by seasoned artistes, who bring out their best, consistently. Over the years, it has become a challenge for these artistes, to sustain their sole livelihood. Besides this, some of the ancient and traditional art forms of Kerala are fast slipping into clutches of extinction.

It was these circumstances that prompted Kerala Tourism to go for a creative interaction, leading to a cultural awakening to sustain and popularize the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Kerala. We found the answer through UTSAVAM, a veritable cultural feast aimed to contribute enough opportunities for the endangered and the lesser-known art forms and artistes of Kerala.
Cultural Kerala
More than its monumental structures, palaces and museums, visitors to Kerala are amused at the State's cultural treasure trove that is rich in artistic marvels, myriad traditions and age-old rituals that are good enough reasons for them to explore and experience the unique cultural milieu of 'God's Own Country – Kerala.'

Utsavam 2010-2011 is one such occasion, where you could invariably witness and experience the spirit and richness of Kerala's fascinating cultural heritage.
The third edition of Utsavam would kick off on 19 December, 2010 and would conclude on 27 February, 2011. The event ensures the active participation of the local bodies, NGO's, Tourism clubs, youth clubs and the local community in its various stages right from the beginning of the selection of art forms and venues. Utsavam 2010-2011 has a plethora of programmes, conceived and staged in a manner that would eventually become a memorable experience for the audience. There will be lecture demonstrations and interpretations with the help of flyers. The senior most artistes in various fields will be honoured during the programmes. The event will be the first of its kind in the State with the active support of the Government and the local community.

Utsavam 2010-2011 is being organized in 14 districts of Kerala. From the list of districts given below, you can find the programme schedule for each of the fourteen districts.
Program Schedule
	THIRUVANANTHAPURAM KOLLAM ALAPPUZHA PATHANAMTHITTA KOTTAYAM IDUKKI ERNAKULAM		THRISSUR PALAKKAD MALAPPURAM KOZHIKODE WAYANAD KANNUR KASARAGOD

ART FORMS

Utsavam 2010-2011 has a repertoire of Folk, Ritual, Tribal as well as Classical art forms of Kerala. These art forms are unique in their performance and sophistication. At Utsavam 2009-2010 you would be treated to a grand spectacle of art forms, staged at venues spread across Kerala. Seasoned artistes and their performances are bound to produce their best, which would in turn provide opportunities to understand the origin, background and etiquettes of each art form.

Be it the simple and down to earth tribal art forms; the vivacious folk arts; the age-old ritual arts or the sophisticated classical art forms…Utsavam 2009-2010 is without doubt the grand theatre for Kerala art forms.

1	Arjuna Nrutham
2	Alamikkali
3	Arambanamuttu
4	Ayyappan Theeyattu
5	Balikkala
6	Chakyarkoothu
7	Charadupinnikkali
8	Chattupattu
9	Chavittukali
10	Chavittunadakam
11	Chonankali
12	Daffumuttu
13	Dharikavadham
14	Gaddika
15	Irulanrutham
16	Kakkarissinadakam
17	Kalamezhuthu
18	Kalidarikan
19	Kambalanrutham
20	Kanyarkali
21	Kathakali
22	Kenthron Pattu
23	Kethrattam
24	Kolattakkali
25	Kolkali
26	Koodiyattam
27	Kooliyattam
28	Koottukottipadiseva
29	Kummattikkali
30	Kurathiyattam
31	Kurumbanrutham
32	Kuthirakali
33	Kuthiyottam
34	Malappulayattam
35	Malyankettu
36	Mangalam Kali
37	Mappilappattu
38	Marathukali
39	Mayooranrutham
40	Mohiniyattam
41	Monthayum Thalavum
42	Mudiyattam
43	Mudiyettu
44	Muduganrutham
45	MulamChenda
46	Nadan Nrutham
47	Nadan Pattu
48	Nangyarkoothu
49	Ottanthullal
50	Padayani
51	Pakkanarattam
52	Panapporattu
53	Paniyartheyam
54	Parichamuttukali
55	Poorakkali
56	Poothanum Thirayum
57	Pulluvanpattu
58	Sangakkali
59	Sasthampattu
60	Shlamakkarol
61	Sopanasangeetham
62	Thacholikkali
63	Thangalum Padayum
64	Theyyam
65	Thidambunrutham
66	Thirayattam
67	Thiriyuzhichil
68	Thiruvathira
69	Tholpavakoothu
70	Thottampattu
71	Thudippattu
72	Thumbithullal
73	Vattakkali
74	Vattayum Thirippu Sambradayam
75	Velakali
76	Vellattu
77	Vilpattu
78	Yakshaganabommayattam
79	Yakshaganam

why kerala is called god's own country

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Highlight : Most Spectacular Festivals
Major Festivals : Onam Festival, Kerala Boat Race, Pongal
Destinations : Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargod, Malappuram, Ernakulam
What To Do : See Rangoli (Floral Pattern), Taste 'Payasam'


Elephant Festival, Thrissur - Kerala

FACT FILE
Tourist Festivals :	Onam Festival, Kerala Boat Festival, Vishu Festival, Thrissur Pooram Festival, Payippad Jelotsavam Festival, Attukal Pongala Festival, Makaravillakku at Sabarimala Festival, Chistmas Festival, Theyyam Festival.
Famous Festivals :	Onam Festival, Kerala Boat Festival, Thrissur Pooram Festival.
Vacation Festival :	Onam Festival, Elephant Parade.
Religious Festivals :	Jagannatha Festival – Kannur, Sabarimala Festival, Aratttu, Attukal Pongal Festival.
Activities :	Shopping for Rural Artifacts, Boat Race, Cultural Programmes, Elephant Safari.
Festive Magic :	Folk Song and Dances, Elephant Ride, Snake Boat Competition.
Not To Miss :	Boat Race, Elephant Safari and Festive Cuisines.
Timings :	Onam – Aug-Sept, Vishnu Festival – March – April, Thrissur Pooram – April – May.

The most important difference between animals and humans is perhaps, the animals cannot celebrate their good spirits, except in pages of fairy tales. In humans too, we have some people amongst ourselves, who will prefer sitting in front of an idiot-box and increase the level of fatty acids in their body, rather than going out and run wild. However, there are some people still left in this world, who want to enjoy harder and it is only because of their thirst, that we come across so many colourful occasions in our life. Kerala is one such state and why not, afterall it is God's own country. Celebrated with overwhelming excitement and hilarity, Malayali festivals are like priceless gems, trimming the crown of Kerala with irrefutable charm of age-old tradition and culture. Round the year these moments of celebrations create a vibrant trove of merriment in Kerala and bring a revolution amidst the mundane affairs of life. Enjoy festival tours of Kerala to see the most popular festival of Kerala India.

Lose Yourself In The Whirlpool of Merriment

Every month turns up as a new face, every season winds up as a reason to celebrate in Kerala. Each of these carnivals are a true celebration of the bounties of nature and a way to show gratitude for all the things God has bestowed us with. Everything is same, be it a craze for new clothes, rituals or the joyous rhythm that makes everyone twist a step or two, but even then there is something, that individualizes each moment from the other. It is the way these famous festivals in Kerala are celebrated.

Among the most awaited and upcoming Kerala festival and events is the 10 day Onam festival is Kerala's most opulently celebrated festival, honouring King Mahabali, a mythological king of ancient Kerala, whose period is eulogized as the golden age in the history of the state. Onam brings out the true elegance of Kerala; a land where nature is in its full throttle and where the people know how to extract the best out of their life. This is one festival that cuts across the barriers of caste, creed and religion and is marked by cultural events such as folk music and dance performances by locals.

After Onam, Vishu is the most important festival of Kerala, celebrated as the Malayalam New Year day. It is a common belief that the first thing that one sees on waking up on Vishu day ('Vishukkani') is indicative of the fortune of the coming year. At the dawn, the Malayali's begin the first day of the Year by waking up in front of Kani (Kani Kanal), which is bedecked with gold ornaments, white clothes, pots filled up with rice or paddy, bell metal mirror, Konna flowers, halved jack fruits, halved coconuts and yellow cucumber. Behind the pot a garlanded deity of Lord Krishna is kept illuminated by two standing oil lamps. The mosy uncanny part is that Iyers will mot see anything, but a Kani and even children are brought blind folded from their beds to where the Kani is kept.

Karthigai is possibly the only light festival that is celebrated in Malayali houses. The village temple arranges for a bonfire of useless materials and every family takes a burning torch made of palm leaves (Chootu) from this fire to the house. Oil lights are lit in houses and the whole town radiates like a spinning nebula on the face of a black sky, an awesome sight to behold. The place is ready to hold some of the most famous events in Kerala



Onam Festival - Rangoli - Kerala

Minute Minutes of Merry

Thiruvatira is a women's festival, celebrated widely in Kerala in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. The festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the cupid of Hindu mythology. The aim of the celebration is conjugal harmony and happiness, with the women adorned in colourful sarees, wearing white, black or red marks, lower down the middle of their foreheads close to the part where the two eyebrows embrace one another and chewing betel leaves, thus reddening their mouth and lips. Enjoy festive tours fo Kerala to be a part of the festive celebrations.

Christmas, too is widely celebrated by Christians and others, to honour the glory of the nativity of Jesus. Perhaps, no other festival is so enriched with so many customs and ceremonies, as Christmas. One can look at the wide array of pageant like Christmas Star, Christmas tree, the Crib, Christmas cake, Christmas presents and above all Santa Claus. The last named is quite a fascinating identity, who claims to be the very incarnation of the most vibrant and quintessence of the gayest of all the festivals. The festival of Pongal is also celebrated in a gala way. However, the practice of making pongal with the new grain and milk, as in Tamil Nadu, is absent in Malayali homes. It is fascinating to see the entire courtyard decorated with Kolam (floral designs made of white stone powder). The next day to Pongal is 'Kanu' or 'Mattu Pongal', which is usually lionized by preparing different types of mixed rice preparations and offering it to crows early in the morning before bath, by the women. The function is generally observed for the happiness of ancestors of the family and the brothers give no cash presents to younger sisters, as in Tamil Nadu. All the festivals of Kerala are an unique time to get drenched in the festivities of the Kerala people

Tour to Sudh Mahadev Temple near Jammu

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Situated in the town of Chanhani in the western part of the Jammu, the Sacred Temple of Sudhmahadev was constructed by Chaudhari Ramdas of Chanhani and his son Chaudhari Parag Mahajan about 80 years ago. Shri Masu Shahane of Sudhmahadev is said to have constructed the entrance door of the temple of Sudhmahadev. The holy spot near Patnitop, it is situated at an altitude of 1225 m above sea level. Pilgrims visit the shrine on the full moon night of the rainy season to worship the famous Trident and a mace, which is said to belong to Lord Shiva. The Devak stream originating at this place disappears magically among the rocks a few kilometers down stream. The temple has a natural black marble ‘lingam’ and Goddess Parvati mounted on Nandi. The ‘Dhooni’ (sacred fire) commemorates the spiritual attainments of Baba Roop Nath who is said to have attained Samadhi there. It is said to have been burning constantly ever since Baba Roop Nath is said to be residing in the temple.

According to a popular legend, it is believed that Lord Shiva who was in his Samadhi (deep meditation) shot his big Trishul (trident) to protect his consort Uma startled suddenly by her loud cry. However, it was Shiva’s devotee, Sudheet who approached Uma to pay his respectful obeisance and since he was a demon in his previous birth, his demoniac looks frightened her and she made a loud shriek. The trident however killed Sudheet. Shiva realized his mistake and offered to resuscitate him but Sudheet preferred the death given by Lord Shiva Himself. Touched by his devotion, Lord Shiva prefixed his name to the place forever and the broken trident in three pieces, is still installed in the temple.

Bangaloru

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The silicon valley and the hub of IT industry, all these epithets befit to the city of Bangalore perfectly. A Bangalore Weekend  package make you roam around the beautiful heart stirring hill station of Gokarna, Hassan, Kabini, Hampi and Mangalore. The tour covers the major tourist attractions like beautiful beaches in Gokarna, temples exhibiting Hoysala Architecture in Hassan, amazing coffee plantations and interesting wildlife in Kabini, ruins of Virupaksha Temple and Lotus Mahal in Hampi and numerous temples in Mangalore. To pitch upon a Bangalore weekend Getaway package can prove to be a wise decision for those who ache for spending some quality time with their loved ones.
Bangalore - Om Beach Resort,Gokarna
Overview

It's a new joint venture between the Bangalore based, Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd a Govt. Of Karnataka undertaking and Kairali Group. JLR is famous for promoting eco, adventure and wildlife tourism and Kairali for Ayurveda Health tourism. The joint venture between these two market leaders set a new dimension in quality and service in the hospitality sector.

The Resort has 12 Palatial colonial English type Suite rooms over looking golden stretch of Beach and verdant green hills in Gokarna on the way to the famous OM Beach, one of the Gokarna's five acclaimed beaches. The resort is having all the modern facilities like air-conditioned rooms, Multi cuisine restaurant and well stoked bar.

The main attraction of this resort is its Ayurveda Centre where different ayurveda packages like Special Holistic treatment for Rejuvenation and detoxification, Special Treatment for Sinusitis and Migraine, Special package for stress and strain, Beauty care and eye care package, Special Panchakarma Theraphy, Special Ayurvedic Health Programme for Weight Loss, Special Treatments for Arthritis and Spondylitis, Post Pregnancy Health Programme and Other Ayurvedic treatment packages are also available like infertility, Skin Diseases, Facial Paralysis Nervous Disability, Slip Disk, Hypertension, Bronchial Diseases, Rheumatism, Diabetes, De Addiction and Rehabilitation From Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs etc.

Bangalore Weekend - at Swaswara Resort,Gokarna

Overview

Swaswara is a CGH Earth Resort located near Gokarna (Karnataka, India) on the Coastal Karnataka belt known for its quiet and serene Beaches.

Location and Map

Getting There

The nearest airport is Goa's Dabolim Airport (fairly well-connected internationally), which is 2.5 hours away.

Mangalore Airport is 4 hours drive.

The nearest rail station is Kumta, on the Konkan railway, a scenic train ride linking Mumbai (Bombay) to the major cities of Kerala , including Cochin and Trivandrum.