Thursday, February 10, 2011

Herbs,Celery, Parsley ,Thyme, Sage, Oregano ,Curry Leaf,Lavender,Zucchini Flower

Culinary Herbs

Culinary Herbs are one of the most important type of herbs popularly used for cooking, garnishing and flavoring. These herbs can be obtained from various parts of a plant and have a strong flavor and are used in small quantities as condiments and seasonings.
Some herbs are perennial, biennials, others are annual and with a very few exceptions, most culinary herbs are very easy to grow. Annual herbs bloom in one season and then die. Biennial herbs live for two seasons, blooming in the second season only. Perennial herbs bloom each season.
Annual Herbs are Anise, Basil, Chervil, Coriander

Biennial Herbs are Caraway, Parsley.

Perennial Herbs are Chives, Fennel, Marjoram, Mint


Form of Culinary Herbs

Culinary herbs are either used for garnishing or for flavoring. Dried herbs lend an instant flavor to food, while fresh herbs are used for decorative purpose rather than flavoring.

Fresh Culinary Herbs are Celery, Parsley
Dried Culinary Herbs are Thyme, Sage, Oregano

Most Popular Culinary Herbs are the following

1. Basil

2. Borage

3. Catnip

4.Chives

5.Curry Leaf

6.Horse radish

7. Lavender

8. Mint

9. Oregano

10. Parsley

11. Peppermint

12. Rosemary

13. Sage

14. Tarragon

15. Thyme

16. Zucchini Flower

Types of Spices,Black Pepper,Capsicum,Cardamom,Celery,Chillies,Cinnamon,Coriander,Fenugreek,Garlic,Ginger,Lemon grass,Mustard,Vanilla,Turmeric

Types of Spices


There are a different types of spices being produced for their culinary, medicinal use. Spices are essentially the flavored or aromatic part of a plant used as a preservative or for food flavoring. These spices are cultivated and grown in different parts of the world depending on the climatic conditions, soil required etc. The international trade figures of almost all the spices have been rising over the past decade. India is a significant contributor to the world trade in spices and is one of the leading producers of various types of indian spices including pepper, ginger, cardamom etc.

Names of spices traded in the global market are:
1. Ajowan

2. Aniseed

3. Bay Leaf

4. Black Pepper

5. Cambodge

6. Capsicum

7. Caraway Seed

8. Cardamom

9. Cassia

10.Celery

11. Chillies

12. Cinnamon

13. Clove

14. Coriander

15. Cumin

16. Dill Seed

17. Fennel

18. Fenugreek

19. Garlic

20. Ginger

21. Lemon Grass

22. Mango Powder

23. Marjoram

24. Mustard

25. Nutmeg & Mace

26. Paprika

27. Saffron

28. Turmeric

29. Vanilla

30. White Pepper


Eye Beauty Tips,Castor oil ,Dark Circles ,Deep Sunken Eyes ,Herbal treatment,Puffy Eyes ,people who is using computers

Eye Beauty Tips


Eyes are one of the most important organ in the human body and vision is one of the most wonderful gift. But often many people neglect the importance of eye care and do not pay proper attention towards eye care.


Some eye care tips for beautiful and attractive eyes are here below. Let's see !!!


1. Dip a cotton pad in a cup of water overnight. Strain this in the morning and add 1 cup of plain water to this. Splash the eyes with this water or wash them with the help of an eyecup.

2.Dip a pad of cotton wool in rose water to which 2-3 drops of Castor oil is mixed. Place these soaked pads on the eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Eye burns and other problems will be reduced.

3.Splash the eyes with a weak n very liter tea solution, thoroughly strained and cooled for 2 to 3 minutes.

4.Place Cotton pads dipped in a cold tea solution for an hour on the eyelids for 10 to 15 minutes and relax.

For Dark Circles around the eyes


1.Grate 3 pieces of cucumber and squeeze them through a muslin cloth and extract the juice. Dip cotton pads in this juice for 2 minutes and place on eyelids and darkened areas. Relax for 15 minutes for best results continue for 2 to3 days.

2.Take 1 teaspoon of Tomato pulp,1 pinch of Turmeric powder, half teaspoon of lime juice and 1 teaspoon of gram flour. Make a paste of the above ingredients and apply gently on the eye lids and the darkened areas and let it remain for half an hour. Remove gently with moist cotton pads after half an hour. Repeat this for a week

Deep Sunken Eyes - Herbal treatment


1. Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with half teaspoon of almond oil. Apply the above mixture gently on the eyes at bedtime. Repeat this for a week.

2. Soak 5 Almonds overnight. Peel them and mix it with a glass of milk eat the almonds by chewing well. Repeat this in the morning for 21 days should definitely help.

For Puffy Eyes we can do these tips.


1.Slice a raw Potato and circle the closed eyes with these halves. Or else grate a raw Potato and place on Muslin cloth and squeeze. Place these on the eyes and relax for 15-20 minutes.

2.Place cotton pads dipped in chilled milk before boiling on the eye lids while relaxing for 10-15 minutes.

3.In a small bowl of chilled water add few drops of Vitamin E oil. Dip cotton pads for 5 minutes in this and place on the eyes while relaxing for 20 minutes everyday.


For the people who is using computers and for computer professionals how to care eyes:-


Spending long hours in front of television or computers is part of peoples life today. Especially if you are a computer professional, there is usually no escape from it. This causes many eyes and vision related problems in future. Here are some useful eye care tips for computer users.


1.After every 20 to 30 minutes of work, look at a distant away object and blink several times. This will help in better focusing

2.Blink frequently. People tend to reduce blink rate while working on computer. This can lead to dry eyes. Try to blink 12 to 15 times every minute.

3.Exercise you eyes at frequent intervals. Eye exercise is simple. All you need to do is just blink several times, then close your eyes and role them in clockwise and anti clockwise direction. While doing this, inhale and exhale slowly and open your eyes slowly after doing this.

4.Rub your palms against each other till them become warm. Cover your eyes with your warm palms for about a minute. Palming is another great way to relax and soothe your eyes.

5.Splashing water on you face during breaks can keep you refreshed. This also helps in cooling your eyes.

6.A few minutes of walk during breaks will refresh your body and mind. It is also good for your eyes as walking increases blood supply to your eyes.

7.Fix an anti glare screen on to your monitor or use anti glare glass while working on computers. Also position the monitor and lights in such a manner that glare from the screen is minimum.




Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Yoga,Diabetes,Obesity,Hyper Tension,Back Ache,Suyra Namaskar ,Paschimottanasana

Yoga -Perfect Solution for common Ailments

Yoga is a perfect solution for almost all of the common diseases. There are different asanas or postures to be followed for different diseases. Some of the common diseases along with the most appropriate postures are given below.

Yoga For Hyper Tension

Vajrasana

Padmasana

Shashankasana

Halasana

Janu shirshasana

Paschimottanasana

Baddha Konasana

Shavasana

Yoga For Obesity

Surya Namaskar,

Trikonasana

Paschimottanasana

Parshvakonasana

Navasana

Chakrasana

Shalabasana

Mayurasana

Dhanurasana

Ardha Matsyendrasana

Bhujangasana

Supta Vajrasana

Yoga For Diabetes

Surya Namaskar

Paschimottanasana

Chakrasana

Shalabasana

Shashankasana

Mayurasana

Dhanurasana

Ardha Matsyendrasana

Bhujangasana

Supta Vajrasana

Sarvangasana

Halasana

Matsyasana

Gomukhasana

Shavasana

Yoga For Back Ache

Suyra Namaskar

Trikonasana

Paschimottanasana

Shashankasana

Shalabhasana

Bhujangasana

Dhanurasana

Ustrasana

Ardha Matsyendrasana

Supta Vajrasana

Purvottanasana

Janu shirshasana

Nehru trophy boat race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali and Payippad Jalotsavam ,Punnamada Kayal in Alapuzha,‘champakulam

Boat Races (Vallamkali) of Kerala -

Boat Races are very popular in Kerala attracts all common man, and an enjoyable sports to fisherman as well as sports personnel. The boat race is associated with ‘Onam Festival ’ and is held during the period of August- September. The boat race is a major event with its competitive spirit and enthusiasm . The boats with thousands of spectators and the overwhelming songs known as ‘vanchi pattukal’ in Malayalam make it a spectacular event. The boat race is associated with the special snake boats or chundan, the length of which varies anywhere between 100 & 130 feet with more than 100 rowers. The participants start preparing for this race months before the event. They practices day and night and stays together to ensure proper coordination as a team on the day of the racing. The people flock to cheer the players as they glides through the waters to a spectacular finish. The speed of the boat depends entirely on the efficiency of handling the oar. There are various boat races like , of which Nehru trophy boat race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali and Payippad Jalotsavam are significant and dates to olden days.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
Nehru Trophy boat race is named after the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as he awarded a rolling trophy for this race as a token in appreciation of the grand reception he received on his way from Kottayam to Alapuzha in 1952. This race is held every year on the second Saturday of August at Punnamada Kayal in Alapuzha. Nehru trophy is well-known for its snake shaped trophy. On the day of race, these boats were polished and decorated and made ready to touch the waves. The team worships before they plunge into the water with full of enthusiasm and excitement to touch the deadline. The coordination among the team accompanied by the songs and the roaring of the spectators marks a great event.

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
This race is held on the ‘champakulam lake’ to commemorate the installation of the deity at the Ambalapuzha Shree Krishna Temple. This event also organizes various competitions for different categories of boats.

Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
This is a part of Aranmula temple festival on the river ‘Pamba’. Large number of snake parts take part in this race but they didn’t compete with each other. They row in a unison with songs and reach their destination.

Payippad Jalotsavam
This vallamkalli (boat race) is held in the memory of installation of ‘Haripad Subramanya Shetram’ on the payippad lake. It is organized for three days starting from the day of Onam. The snake boat processions are showcased for first two days and the competition takes place only on the third day. Their coordination and spirit of competition with religious significance makes it an unforgettable and spectacular event.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race , Jawaharlal Nehru ,second Saturday of August at Punnamada Kayal ,Alapuzha

Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Boat Races are very popular in Kerala attracts all common man, and an enjoyable sports to fisherman as well as sports personnel. The boat race is associated with ‘Onam Festival ’ and is held during the period of August- September. The boat race is a major event with its competitive spirit and enthusiasm .

Nehru Trophy boat race is named after the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as he awarded a rolling trophy for this race as a token in appreciation of the grand reception he received on his way from Kottayam to Alapuzha in 1952. This race is held every year on the second Saturday of August at Punnamada Kayal in Alapuzha. Nehru trophy is well-known for its snake shaped trophy. On the day of race, these boats were polished and decorated and made ready to touch the waves. The team worships before they plunge into the water with full of enthusiasm and excitement to touch the deadline. The coordination among the team accompanied by the songs and the roaring of the spectators marks a great event.

Boat Races (Vallamkali) of Kerala ,‘Onam Festival, Nehru trophy boat race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali and Payippad

Boat Races (Vallamkali) of Kerala -


Boat Races are very popular in Kerala attracts all common man, and an enjoyable sports to fisherman as well as sports personnel. The boat race is associated with ‘Onam Festival ’ and is held during the period of August- September. The boat race is a major event with its competitive spirit and enthusiasm . The boats with thousands of spectators and the overwhelming songs known as ‘vanchi pattukal’ in Malayalam make it a spectacular event. The boat race is associated with the special snake boats or chundan, the length of which varies anywhere between 100 & 130 feet with more than 100 rowers. The participants start preparing for this race months before the event. They practices day and night and stays together to ensure proper coordination as a team on the day of the racing. The people flock to cheer the players as they glides through the waters to a spectacular finish. The speed of the boat depends entirely on the efficiency of handling the oar. There are various boat races like , of which Nehru trophy boat race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali and Payippad Jalotsavam are significant and dates to olden days.

The people of Kerala ( MALLUS ),Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes

The people of Kerala ( MALLUS )

The people of Kerala, known as 'Malayalees' (People speaking Malayalam), is polygenetic and belong to different ethnic groups and religions. Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes and races are some of the groups came gradually in to Kerala.


Negritos:

The earliest known inhabitants of Kerala were the Negritos (People of the Negroid race). Members of this race lived by hunting and by gathering plants and fruits. These people have dark skin and tightly curled brown hair . Descendants of this race still inhabit the mountain regions of the state. They have a good knowledge of herbal medicine .


Australoids:

After the Negritoes came the Proto-Australoids (Austrics), who spread over the whole of India. These belonged to the same race as the present-day Australian Aborigines. They represented a race of medium height, dark (in some cases black) complexion with long heads and flat noses.They introduced the cultivation of rice and vegetables and snake-worship in Kerala.


Dravidians:

By 700 B.C., the Dravidians (The Mediterranean People), who migrated from the Mediterranean region, spread to the whole of India especially in the south, supplanting the Austrics and Negritoes alike. The Dravidians are the ancestors of majority of the present day Malayalees. They absorbed many of the beliefs of the Negrito and Austric people, but they were strongly inclined to the worship of the Mother Goddess in all her myriad forms: Protector, Avenger, Bestower of wealth, wisdom and arts.


Aryans:

After the Dravidians came the Aryans who had already settled over northern India from the Mesopotamian region. They migrated to south India during circa 300 B.C. The "white" or fair-skinned Brahmins belonged to this stock. By the advent of Aryans, caste system also formed in Kerala. The Aryans have made a deep impression on Kerala in late proto-historic times.

Now, Kerala population is the melting pot of various races, religions and ethnic groups. The vast majority of Keralites carry three racial strains in their genetic make-up; Munda, Dravidian, and Aryan. Of this, majority of today's Keralites have a Dravidian ancestry.

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.

The people of Kerala ( Aryans ),Mesopotamian region,white" or fair-skinned Brahmins

The people of Kerala ( Aryans )

The people of Kerala, known as 'Malayalees' (People speaking Malayalam), is polygenetic and belong to different ethnic groups and religions. Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes and races are some of the groups came gradually in to Kerala.

Aryans:

After the Dravidians came the Aryans who had already settled over northern India from the Mesopotamian region. They migrated to south India during circa 300 B.C. The "white" or fair-skinned Brahmins belonged to this stock. By the advent of Aryans, caste system also formed in Kerala. The Aryans have made a deep impression on Kerala in late proto-historic times.

The people of Kerala (Dravidians),Protector, Avenger, Bestower of wealth, wisdom and arts.

The people of Kerala (Dravidians)

The people of Kerala, known as 'Malayalees' (People speaking Malayalam), is polygenetic and belong to different ethnic groups and religions. Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes and races are some of the groups came gradually in to Kerala.

Dravidians:

By 700 B.C., the Dravidians (The Mediterranean People), who migrated from the Mediterranean region, spread to the whole of India especially in the south, supplanting the Austrics and Negritoes alike. The Dravidians are the ancestors of majority of the present day Malayalees. They absorbed many of the beliefs of the Negrito and Austric people, but they were strongly inclined to the worship of the Mother Goddess in all her myriad forms: Protector, Avenger, Bestower of wealth, wisdom and arts.

The people of Kerala,Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes ,Australoids,snake-worship in Kerala

The people of Kerala

The people of Kerala, known as 'Malayalees' (People speaking Malayalam), is polygenetic and belong to different ethnic groups and religions. Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes and races are some of the groups came gradually in to Kerala.

Australoids:

After the Negritoes came the Proto-Australoids (Austrics), who spread over the whole of India. These belonged to the same race as the present-day Australian Aborigines. They represented a race of medium height, dark (in some cases black) complexion with long heads and flat noses.They introduced the cultivation of rice and vegetables and snake-worship in Kerala.

The People of Kerala ,'Malayalees' ,Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes ,Negritos

The People of Kerala

The people of Kerala, known as 'Malayalees' (People speaking Malayalam), is polygenetic and belong to different ethnic groups and religions. Negritos,Australoids,Dravidians ,Aryans, and other tribes and races are some of the groups came gradually in to Kerala.

Negritos:

The earliest known inhabitants of Kerala were the Negritos (People of the Negroid race). Members of this race lived by hunting and by gathering plants and fruits. These people have dark skin and tightly curled brown hair . Descendants of this race still inhabit the mountain regions of the state. They have a good knowledge of herbal medicine .

Gastroenterology Treatments ,Surgery,esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine (colon), liver, gallbladder, and pancreas

Gastroenterology Treatments and Surgery In India

Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine concerned with digestive diseases. The practice of gastroenterology concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine (colon), liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. This medical field is really a subspecialty of Internal Medicine, as is, for example, Cardiology, which deals with diseases of the heart. The treatments and surgeries offered are mentioned below.
Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Upper GI Endoscopy Colorectal Neoplasia

Colonoscopy

ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography)

Sclerotherapy and band ligation of varices

Esophageal dilations

Balloon treatment for Achalasia cardia

Prosthesis placement

Extraction of stone from CBD

Stenting of CBD and pancreatic ducts

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Colorectal Nepoplasia

Liver Transplant Clinic

Surgical Gastroenterology & Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgeries:

Cholecystectomy

Appendectomy

Splenectomy

Intestinal Resections

Surgery for Hiatus Hernia

Benign and malignant diseases of the food pipe (esophagus)

Diseases of stomach including tests for H. Pylori for peptic ulcer

Diseases of small bowel including Malabsorption Syndrome

Benign and Malignant disorders of the biliary tract

Acute and chronic pancreatic diseases

Diseases of large bowel

Liver Diseases including tests for Viral Profile in Hepatitis and Alcohol related problems

Liver Diseases

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Education in Kerala,'Fully Literate State' ,Primary ,Secondary,Higher secondary,Primary or Elementary Education,Vocational Schools,Higher Education

Education in Kerala

Education is the way in which people learn skills and gain knowledge and understanding about the world, and about themselves.Kerala was declared a 'Fully Literate State' in 1991 and is the only state in India where over 90% of the people can read and write, because government has given free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14 years. Apart from this, the government is taking every possible step to improve the quality and standard of education.
School Education: In Kerala, School education is divided into 3 different stages, viz.,
Primary :-

Lower Primary ( Classes I - IV )

Upper Primary ( Classes V - VII )
Secondary :-

Secondary ( Classes VIII - X )

Higher secondary

Higher Secondary ( Classes XI - XII )


Primary or Elementary Education: This is the basic stage in schooling. Primary is further divided into Upper Primary (UP) and Lower primary (LP). Apart from the the primary schools there are pre-primary institutions which include Anganvadis, Independent primary schools and other institutions attached to schools.
Number of Primary Schools in Kerala Schools

Govt. - Pvt. - Aided - Pvt. Unaided- Total

L P School- 2551 - 4003 - 158 - 6712

U P School -957 -1870- 124 - 2951

Secondary (High School) and Higher Secondary education: This serves as a bridge between the Elementary and Higher Education to prepare young persons of the age group of 14 to 18 for entry into higher education.
Number of Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools in Kerala

Schools -Govt. -Pvt. -Aided -Pvt. Unaided -Total

High School -984- 1409- 215- 2608

Higher Secondary Schools- 416 -512- 339 -1267


Vocational Schools: These were setup as part of the scheme of vocationalisation of secondary education and the scheme was implemented in 1988 and later revised in 1993. The main aim of implementation of such a course is to train the students for some occupation, business, profession or trade.
Number of Vocational Schools in Kerala

Schools Govt. Pvt. Aided Pvt. Unaided Total

Vocational H.S.S. 247-128 - 375
Higher Education: This refers to the education at college or university level and is divided into Graduation (Bachelor's degree) and Post-Graduation (Master's degree). With the colleges offering a wide variety of courses in various branches of study to choose from, the students are provided with ample opportunities to specialize in fields of their interest. All colleges in Kerala are affiliated to one of the seven Universities of the state.
Number of Arts and Science Colleges

Government Private Unaided Universities

38- 148 -5 8
Professional Education: With the introduction of the new educational policy by the state government, which enabled private colleges on Self-Financing basis, a number of colleges offering professional education commenced throughout the state. Admission to most of these colleges are based on the marks obtained in the entrance examinations. Self-Financing colleges offer 50% seats on merit basis and the rest in management quota.
Number of Professional Colleges

Type of Institutions Number

Medical Colleges 9

Pharmacy Colleges 11

Dental Colleges 9

Homeo Colleges 5

Engineering Colleges 77

Nursing Colleges 31

Poly Technics 121

Ayurveda Colleges 10

Agricultural Colleges 9

Food Craft Institutes 7

Women's Education: The government is committed to bring about basic change in the status of women through education. Education helps in the emancipation of women and thereby improving their standard of living. Female literacy rate in Kerala is 87.7, which is higher than the rate in any other Indian state. Emphasis had been laid on enrolling and retention of girl in normal schooling and non-formal education.
Adult Education: This include both general (reading and writing) and vocational education, often through evening classes. Such classes are conducted throughout the state, especially in rural and tribal areas, by government organizations and voluntary associations.

Jainism, Sikhism ,Buddhism,Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists

Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism

Apart from the three major religions, there is a small population of Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists in Kerala. Buddhism is believed to have reached Kerala between 270 B.C. to 240 B.C. The oldest record about Kerala found in one of the rock edict by Asoka, the Mauryan emperor who later turned to Buddhism, dates back to 257 B.C. By the mid-seventh century Buddhism declined. Today a very small population of Buddhists is present in the state. Likewise, a small population of Jains and Sikhs are also present in the state. The Jaina population is mainly in the northern districts.

Judaism,Synagogue,Jews ,Jewish Town in Kochi,

Judaism in Kerala

Inside a Synagogue There are two opinions about the arrival of Jews in Kerala. One is that, due to persecution inflicted on them by the Romans, the Jews fled their country and some of them reached Kerala, before the arrival of St. Thomas. Another notion is that they reached Kerala in 68 A.D.Today, a very small population of Jews live in Kerala. There is a Jewish Town in Kochi. There is also an ancient Synagogue. Built in 1568, this Synagogue is the oldest in India.

Islam,Muslims ,Malappuram,Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad,spices, Teakwood, Ivory

Islam in Kerala

Kerala had trade relations with many foreign countries, especially those in the middle-east like Assyria and Babylonia, right from the ancient period. Kerala was frequently visited by Arab traders for its spices, Teakwood, Ivory etc... Islam was propagated in Kerala by these traders and it is believed that the religion spread to other parts of India from Kerala. Many of these traders later settled in the coastal areas of Kerala. In 644 A.D., Malikben Dinar reached Kerala, propagated the religion and established mosques at various places.Today, Muslims form the second largest religious community in Kerala constituting 24.7% of the total population. Majority of the Muslim population is in the northern districts of the state. Malappuram has the largest Muslim population followed by Kannur, Kozhikode and Wayanad. The population of Muslims increased by 1.70 percentage points in the State since the last Census in 1991.

Christianity ,St. Thomas,Jesus Christ ,The Latin Catholic Church ,Syro-Malabar Catholic Church ,Jacobite Syrian Church,Anglican Church,Marthoma

Christianity in Kerala

St. Thomas, the Apostle of Jesus Christ is considered the father of Christianity in India. He landed at Maliankara, near Cranganore (now Kodungallur) in 52 A.D. He preached Christianity first among the Jews and then converted twelve Brahmin families from whom the Syrian Christians trace their genealogy. He also founded seven churches at various places in Kerala. Today, Christians constitute 19% of the total population of the state. With the arrival of colonialism by the 17th century, many European missionaries reached Kerala. The Church Mission Society of London (CMS) made many converts from among the untouchables and the Syrian Christians. Kerala is greatly indebted to these missionaries for their role in improving the living standard of it's people and relieving them from many social evils.The Christians of Kerala today are divided into several branches:
The Latin Catholic Church

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

The Jacobite Syrian Church

The Nestorian Church (Confined mainly to Thrissur and Ernakulam)

The Anglican Church which is now part of the Church of South India

The Marthoma Syrian Church

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Of these, the Marthoma churches are comparatively of younger origin. They are considered as Reformers Church as they are the exponents of introducing the vernacular language in the liturgy. Apart from these major churches, there are also a number of minor Churches and Missions like the Pentecostal churches, Salvation Army, Seventh-Day Adventists etc...A number of schools, colleges, hospitals and other charitable institutions like old age homes, orphanages etc... are run by these churches and other Christian organisations throughout the state. Malayattoor Church is an improtant pilgrim centre.Since the last census, Christian population showed a marginal decline of 0.32 percentage points. The Christian population is highest in Ernakulam district and the lowest in Malappuram. Christians enjoy a higher literacy rate (94.15%) than other religious communities.

Hinduism,Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, Siva,Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas,Aryans,Sabarimala Temple

Hinduism in Kerala

Hindus, nearly half the population of the state, form the largest religious community in Kerala. Hindus worship many divinities (gods and goddesses). The most important Gods are - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara (Siva) - the creator, the preservator and destroyer. Hinduism has a number of sacred writings, such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas which contain information regarding how its followers should conduct their lives.Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple, TrivandrumWith the arrival of the Aryans, caste system evolved. The caste system as applied to Hindus determines their way of life, often even their occupations. Hindus offer daily worship to family deities at the household shrine. Daily puja in a Hindu temple is conducted by the chief priest and his helpers. Even today snake worship is done in many temples of Kerala.In 1936, Travancore opened its Hindu temples to all Hindu worshippers regardless of their caste (social status). The city of Cochin followed Travancore's example in 1948. Temples remain closed to non-Hindus. Sabarimala Temple is an improtant pilgrim centre.The population of Hindus declined by 1.48 percentage points in the State since the last Census in 1991.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

rivers, lakes, backwaters,Western Ghats,Bharatapuzha, the Periyar, the Meenachil, the Pampa, the Manimala

Rivers of Kerala


Kerala is a land abundant in water resources which include rivers, lakes, backwaters, big and small ponds. Kerala has 44 rivers of which 41 are west flowing and 3 east flowing. The west flowing rivers flow down the land and join the Arabian sea.Most of these rivers originate from the Western Ghats. The main rivers which start from the Western Ghats are the Bharatapuzha, the Periyar, the Meenachil, the Pampa, the Manimala etc. Of these rivers the Bharatapuzha flows into the Arabian sea, and the others drain into the Vembanadu or Ashtamudi lakes . All these rivers begin as small stream and during its running is joined by other big and small streams at last will flow as a single large rivers. The east flowing rivers flow only short distances through Kerala. Of them, Paambaar and Bhavani flow into Tamilnadu and Kabani to Karnataka.With a total length of 244 km, the longest river in Kerala is the Periyar. Second and third are the Bharathapuzha (Nila) (209 km) and Pampa (176 km) respectively. Puraparamba and Kalnadu with a length of just below 10 km, are the shortest rivers. The Pampa which originates from Peermedu near Sabrimala is considered a holy river by the Hindus. These large and small rivers, along with their tributaries, distributaries and an innumerable number of streams and rivulets criss-cross the land making it green, attractive and fertile. Many of these rivers serves as inland waterways in many part of the state. Water from these rivers is used for irrigational purposes, drinking, hydro electric power production etc. They also serves as grounds for inland fishing.Unlike the rivers of north India, which arise from the Himalayas and are both rain-fed and snow-fed, rivers of the south cannot be treated as a perennial source of water supply. Backwaters and Lakes of Kerala'Backwaters' or 'Lagoons' are shallow bodies of water separated from the open sea by land. Because of this separation from the sea, Backwaters are free from the pounding action of waves. Backwaters are one of the most alluring and economically valuable features of Kerala. These include lakes and ocean inlets which stretch irregularly along the coast.The biggest backwater is the Vembanad lake with an area of 260 sq.km. Second comes the Ashtamudi which covers an area of 55 sq.km. Sastamkota lake is the largest natural fresh water lake of the state. It extends over an area of 4sq.km. Other important backwaters are Veli, Kadhinamkulam, Anjuthengu (Anjengo), Edava, Nadayara, Paravoor, Kayamkulam, Kodungallur (Cranganore) and Chetuva. The deltas of the rivers interlink the backwaters providing excellent inland waterways along the lower and costal areas of the state. Backwaters serves as hot spots of Kerala tourism. Backwater tourism include cruises on luxury house-boats, boating, boat races etc. Nehru Trophy boat race, one of Kerala's most famous boat races is held each year on the Punnamada backwaters of Alappuzha district