Oppana

Oppana is a dance form specially from the muslim community of kerala. It is a bridal group dance performed by a group of girls around the bride on the day before the marriage.And also can say it is mostly seen in the Muslims especially in the Malabar region of Kerala.  Its a dance were all the moments are accompanied with  clapping their hands.Two or three girls begin the songs and the rest join in chorus.The bride dressed in all finery, covered with gold ornaments and her palms and feet adorned with an intricately woven pattern of mylanchi in malayalam which means -henna .The bride will sit in the center around which the singing and dancing take place. 

The instruments used for oppana dance are Harmonium, Tabla, Ganjira and Elathaalam .And the song for the performance is named as mappilapaattu which is a type of song for muslim religion only. Oppana is much popularity in performing stages of Youth Festivals of student community.

Kathakali

Kathakali is a classical dance drama which was originated over 500 years ago.The word kathakali can be separated as two 'katha' which in malayalam means story and 'kali' means play so it literally means story play  it is noticed for the attractive makeup ,costumes and its well designed costumes and the moments.It is a combination of drama, dance, music and ritual.Theme of kathakali is based on hindu religion.The story typically deals with Ramayana , Mahabharatha and puranas.
            
Another important aspect of kathakali is its costumes and makeups .Its is different for hero and the heroin. There are several kinds of costume.  There are: Sathwika -the hero, Kathi -the villain, Minukku -females, and Thatti. The music of kathakali is likely similar to karnatic music and the instruments used are chenda ,idakka, shuddha madalam.

DANCE FORMS OF KERALA

Kerala is home to diverse forms of performing arts.The various religions of the state contribute to its rich and traditional culture.culture. Kathakali is one of the art form which is famous world wide .Here is a list of some of the most popular dance forms in Kerala.  

• Kathakali

• Theyyam 
• oppana dance
• Thullal

• Koodiyattam

• Duffmuttu or Aravanmuttu
• Thitambu Nritham
• Kaikottikali or Thiruvathirakali
• Margamkali

I would like to introduce about the 14 districts of Kerala state with different culture in a same mother-tongue.i travelled through the districts and i would like to share my information within my limits and they are...

Trivandrum

Trivandrum is the southernmost district of the coastel state of kerala.It was existed in 1957.trivandrum is also known as the capital city of Kerala. The district area is 2192 square kms.the district have three major riveres,severel fresh water lakes and 100 of ponds also.trivandrum  hot tropical in climate and cold weather experience in mountain ranges.Industry,growth of  information technology paved the way for the growth of the state.agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the state.tapioca and coconut are the main crops of the state.

Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta is the youngest district located in the southern part of the Kerala. The state surrounded by Kottayam,Idukki,Alappuzha and Koallam.The state known as the state of pilgrimage. The famous pilgrim sabarimala located in this state. According the census of India in 2001 the population was 1231570.Pathanamthitta declared as the first polio Free State in India. The districts can be divided in to  three natural  regions highland, midland and lowland. Usually moderate climate is getting in this state. The south-west masoon from June to sep and east-west monsoon from October to November. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people.75% people depending agriculture. Rubber is the important crop in pathanamthiatta 

Palakkadu

The district nicknamed the granary of Kerala  bounded in the northwest of malappuram and southwest by trissure and east by coibatore.the district is 13.62% urbanized.the total area of state is 4480km.

The climate is hot humid in most part of year. The state blessed with small rivers which are the tributes of bharathappuzha river. The total population is 2617072 in 2001 census. Coca cola,pepsi are main industries of palakkad .palakkade is the most agrarian state of Kerala.Paddy cultivation also promoting by the state.

Kottayam

Kottayam known as the district achieved 100 percentage in  literacy in whole of india in 2008.The state free from tobcco users also.kottayam literaly means interior of fort.The vaikom satyagraha witnessed in kottayam.gandhiji,c rajagopalachari,vaikom muhammed basher took part in vaikom satayagraha.the struggle was against to suprees untochblity prevailed in society.when looking in to  climate humidity high and about 90% during rainy season.kottayam  regarded as important tourist point in Kerala cause the state have lots of rivers and backwaters. Rice is mainly cultivated in kottayam so agriculture important income.two vital news papers of kerala publishing from kottayam.on the basis of religion is Christians  staying more in the state.

kasargod

Kasargode is the one of the districts of Kerala. It was organized as a separate district in 24 may 1984.it is located in the northwest of India and world renewed  for its coir and hand-loom industries. The district surrounded with coast line that’s why main livelyhood is fishing. The districts popular with bakel fort was bult by tippu sultan,rivers,hillocks,beaches and shrines.it also known as the linguistic cultural district in kerala.kasargode mainly arab people visited in 19^th centuries as the intention of trade. The people speaks 7 different languages.

Kannur

Kannur was  founded in 1957.Kannur district is bounded with  kasargode north,kozhickode to south and wayanad to south-east.the state is most urbanized  district in kerala.kannur district known as the land of looms and lores beause the loom industries functioning the festivel in temples.small shrines known as kaavu associated with teyyam .teyyam is a ritual dance regularly scene in in the state.kannur witnessd one of the bloodiest resistence against british rule such as satyagraha,civil disobedience movement etc.just like others states kannur  has humid climate.a majority of people engaged in agriculture.mainly paddy,coconut,cashew and tapioca so the the district’s main economy income is agriculture.

Idukki

Idukki district was formed in 26 January 1972. Idukki  is rugged with mountains and forests cover about 90 percentage of total area. the borders are pathanamthitta and kottayam.The population considered as  1103457 in 2011 census and the literary rate is 92.2.Munnar in idukki considers as the summer tourist point in kerala, also noted for  scenic and picturque landscapes.The place in marayur in idukki known as  new stone age civilization point. so the main economy is agriculture and tourism.

Eranakulam

Ernakulum known as the revenue district of Kerala situated in the central part of Kerala.it also named as the commercial  district of kearla.the district famous in ancient mosques,churches and temples.Ernakulum became the first district in India  get fully literate and countries first district having 100 percentage of banking. The arabs,jews,dutche,Chinese  followed the sea rout and left their impression in the town. According to 2011 census the district has a population of 3288382 as equal to us state lowa,also the district regarded as the most advanced in social political and economic  sector.Geographicaly it located in the western cost plain of India. The most important religious are Hindu Christian and Muslim. Industry is the main economic sources of Ernakulum with the help of rail,canal,sea and air.sivaratri is the main cultural activity of state.

Alappuzha

Firstly Alppuzha known as Alappy. in 1990 alappy changed to alappuzha.the main producer of coir is alappuzha.politicaly it has communist tradition.punnappra vayalar happened in the same state against british for striking against fudel system.Alappuzha connects the water ways in to various parts of  Kerala including the famous tourist destination kumarakam.The population growth rate is over the decade is 0.06 and the literary rate is 96.26.Snake boat races are the most traditional culture of Alapuzha.The famous snake boat race  Nehru trophy boat race.alappuzha considered as  country’s most attractable place for tourists that’s why it named as Venice of east.

Kollam

Kollam is an old seaport and a town on the coast of kerala.the traveler ibn bathootha considered in his works about kollam.it located in the banks of ashtamudi kayal,it took on the title god’s own country without much decorations.in ancient  trading days arabs,Chinese,romance basically used kollam to export cashews .after Trivandrum it is the fourth largest city in kerela.the main economy of kollam is they have made plety of resorts ,shopping malles,lexury apartments,textiles to attract different tourist around the world.the city linked with air,rail and public transport. So basically their economy considered as tourists

Malappuram

Malappuram is the city in the southern state of Kerala with the inhabitants of 101330 in the census of 2011.it also divided in to 40 electoral wards. Literally malappuram means  place atop the hills, situated 50 km from southeast of Calicut and 90 km northwest of palakkad.in ancient days malappuram ruled by zamorins.the great Malabar lahala was happened in the heart of malappuram,the lahala considered as the freedom struggle against British by Muslims  in the history of Indian independence which cannot be sweep under the carpet of history. The city covered by exotic mountains and fresh water streams. The climate is generally mild hot and humid in nature. The major income of malappuram is the remittance of the migrants residing in Middle East countries.

Trissure

Trissure originally known as tirusivapperoor .it is the fourth largest city of kerala.trissure is the capital of Cochin. It located 300km of north west of state capital thiruvanathapuram.the  city basically  portrayed with  cultural activities throughout religious lines such as kerala  sangeetha nadaka academi,kerala sahitya academy. Yearly trissure hosts trissure pooram, the most colourful and spectacular temple festival in Kerala. Various parts of the world travelers visit that time to see the world of colour so basically the region resided by Hindus who worships Siva as the god.

wayanad

Wayanad district is in the north-east  of Kerala was formed  in November  1980.kalpetta considered  as district head quarter. The land is the combination of paddy field and land. there are certain tribes also staying. According to archeological evidence it was founded about 3000 years ago. when we go through the history of wayanad we can’t avoid the ruler named pazhassi rajaha memories lives still there as monument. One of the best thing about we can say about waynad is it birthed lots of rivers and mountains with misty climate in whole time period. Agriculture is the main economy such as orange, tea and coffee. When considered about culture it known as the tribel land of  kerala with unique culture. They their own dance with fires.mainly tribes known as paniyans, kurumas adiyars etc.they have rich legacy of art and craft that includes dance music and ornamentation. In short  waynad is an exotic place in Kerala with its natural climate and breath.

kozhikode

 Kozhikode also known as Calicut, locating in the coast of Malabar. The city’s main economy is trade that’s why the city called as city spice. In ancient days merchants came from abroad to purchase basically black pepper and cardamom. The city has its own ancient trading sense so it renewed as best city of India. When the famous traveler vasco da gama reached in Calicut that paved the way for other traveler come and started trade between Calicut and different countries.basically the climate is monsoon in Calicut. The primary source is south west monsoon that set in the first week of June continues until september.the city linked with air,railway and public transport.about culture consider it well known in folk songs such as vadakan pattu,and also city famaous in Malayalam gazals.the city provided famous writers like sk pottakkad and mt vasudevan nair..pottakkad wrote about the city and introduce the city in the world with his eminent works that’s why  Calicut  known as the cultural city of Kerala.

   

Kerala, God's Own Country

       With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats towering 500-2700 m in the east and networked by 44 rivers, Kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia. An equable climate ,cultural heritage, Ayurveda ,historic monuments it creates a unique space in the minds of tourist.
      Kerala is named as one of the ten paradises of the world by the National geographic traveler .it is famous especially for its  eco-tourism initiatives. Its unique culture and tradition , coupled with its varied demography, has made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. India's most advanced society with hundred percent literacy, lowest infant mortality rate,and highest life expectancy rate.Kerala is India's cleanest state.
     For administrative purpose, the state of Kerala is divided into fourteen districts. Most of these districts offer all the tourism products typical of the State.