The Kattukaran Chandu Santhappan Memorial club at Poyya
The Kattukaran Chandu Santhappan Memorial club at Poyya in Trissur district of Kerala is a Kathakali troupe exclusively owned by Kudumbis.Performance at Karthika Kavu temple in Poyya
Kudumbi - Then... Kudumbi - now
Holi Celebration (Manjakuli)
THE HINDU - Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 07, 2004
By Our Staff Reporter THRISSUR, MARCH 6
Holi celebrations, in Kerala style, began at a few temples here on Saturday. The festival, which falls on the day after the full moon in early March, is being celebrated by the Kudumbi community at 20 temples in the State over four days. According to P.S. Ramachandran, board member, Kudumbi Seva Sanghom, the temples include the Annapoorneswari Temple, Edathirinji, Bhadrakali temple, Kakkathuruthy, Perumpadana Devi temple, North Paravur, Karthika Kavu temple, Poyya, Narayanamangalam temple, Kodungallur and Bhuvaneswari temple, Vallivattom. Persecuted by the Portugese in Goa, a section of the Kudumbis had migrated to Kerala. In 1864, the Portugese rulers had enacted an ordinance outlawing the use of the Kudumbi language in Goa Many Kudumbis then fled Goa. Those who reached Kerala were welcomed by the ruler of Cochin. Some of them were employed as ministers and generals, Mr. Ramachandran says. The Kudumbi Seva Sanghom has 5.5 lakh members in the State, its former general secretary, P.R. Murali, says. ``Unlike the garish Holi celebrations in north India, those in Kerala are solemn and centred on temple rites. The rites vary between temples. In some of the Kudumbi temples in Ernakulam, an arecanut tree is felled and carried to the shrine, symbolising Durga's victory over the demons. In some Thrissur temples, a figure of a crocodile is modelled out of mud. According to belief, the Goddess, in the form of a crocodile, had helped the Kudumbis when they faced troubles while migrating to Kerala," Ramachandran says. On the second day of the celebrations, the Kudumbis get themselves sprayed with coloured water (containing turmeric) and dance to traditional Kerala percussion. The ceremony is called 'Manjakkuli'. Special Holi poojas will be held at the Edathirinji temple on March 7 and 8. The 'Manjakkuli' will be held on March 9, Mr. Ramachandran says.
Myriad hues of Holi
Deccan Herald » Fine Art / Culture » Detailed Story Sunday, March 16, 2008
Holi may not be celebrated in South India the same way as it is in the North. Purnima Raghavan finds out that each southern state has its own unique way of making the day special. Holi, which falls on the phalgun purnima (full moon) will be celebrated this year on March 22. If you thought, after the Vindhyas, the colourful Holi peters out somewhere around Mumbai and in the northern districts of Karnataka, you are wrong. It may not be celebrated the same way as it is observed in North India, but from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, the day of Holi is observed in some form or the other. In fact, there are 10th century murals in the Karnataka temple of Shravanabelgola showing ‘gods playing Holi’.
Holi celebrations in Kerala begins at the temples on the day after the full moon in early March. It is celebrated mainly by the Kudumbi community of nearly a million at 20 temples in the state over four days. Persecuted by the Portuguese in Goa, a section of the Kudumbi community fled Goa. Those who reached Kerala brought the festival of Holi with them and were welcomed by the ruler of Cochin.
In some of the Kudumbi temples in Ernakulam, an arecanut tree is felled and carried to the shrine, symbolising Durga’s victory over the demons. In some temples in Thrissur, a figure of a crocodile is modelled out of mud. According to belief, the goddess, in the form of a crocodile, helped the Kudumbis when they faced trouble while migrating to Kerala. On the second day of the celebrations, the Kudumbis get themselves sprayed with coloured water (containing turmeric) and dance to traditional Kerala percussion. The ceremony is called Manjakkuli equivalent to throwing of colour in the north
Holi,Onam,Vishu,Navarathri,Sivarathri, Astami Rohini, Nagapanchami etc are some of the festivals celebrated by Kudumbis. Unlike in Northern India, Holi-the festival of colors, is celebrated in a different way in Kerala by the kudumbis. Youngsters and children go in a group, pour the yellow colored pot water kept in front of every house and finally gather at their local (Devili) temple. Onam and Vishuare the kerala festivals which they have also adapted as their traditional festivals. The festivity has regional variations.
Social Reformers
Sri M.Krishnan --1937 -- popularly known as Gandhi Krishnan (Picture shows Gangabai - wife of late Sri Gandhi Krishnan)
Sri Santhalyan Master (Nominated Ex-MLC in erstwhile Cochin legislative assembly under Cochin Princely State)-1937
Shaji Lekshmanan -- Launched the Kudumbi.com website (first of it's kind) in 1999 to bring the Kudumbi community together and uplift the youth and revive the Kudumbi language. His monetory contributions towards Kudumbi Sevasanghom has been highly appreciated. He has offered free matrimonial services to the Kudumbi community through his website, which has benefitted the community to a large extent. He has also actively participated in the 2001 Gujurat earthquake and 2004 Tsunami.
Socio-Cultural Organisations
Gandhi Krishnan Memorial Library- Tiruvambadi,Alapuzha -Runs a library in the name of Late social reformer Gandhi Krishnan.
TRACKS - Tripunithura, Ernakulam, Kochi - A research center for Konkani studies
CS & RC (Center for Cultural Studies and Research Center) -North Paravoor, Ernakulam
KES (Kudumbi Educational Society) - North Paravoor,Ernakulam -Running a School and a parallel college
Kattukaran Chandu Santhappan Memorial Trust at Poyya near Trissur-A rare Kathakali School run by a Kudumbi family
Social organisations representing the community in Kerala
Kudumbi Seva Sanghom (KSS) is now the largest united organisation representing the majority of Kudumbis in Kerala
Kerala Kudumbi Federation
Kudumbi Seva Samiti
Kudumbi Samajam
Kodungalloor Bharani Thalappoli Melam
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