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Known As : Malayalee
Traditional Attire : Saree (women), Mundu (men)
Matrimony : Matrilineal system
Known For : 100% literacy rate, Healthcare awareness, Lowest infant mortality
Religion :The Hindus account for nearly 60% of the population. In comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism. The rest of the 40% is almost equally divided between the Christians and Muslims.
The people of Kerala form a well educated and first state in India with 100% literacy. Malayalam is the language of Kerala. Keralites are popularly called "Malayalees" for the language they speak. Kerala is one of the most progressive states in terms of social welfare and physical quality of life. The people of Kerala enjoy a unique cosmopolitan outlook, which is reflected in there tolerance towards other races and religions. So it has been called Kerala as "God's Own Country".
Culture:
Kerala's culture is derived from both a greater Tamil-heritage region known as Tamilakam and southern coastal Karnataka. Later, Kerala's culture was elaborated upon through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas cultures Caparisoned Keralite elephants during the Sree Poornathrayesa Temple festival.Caparisoned Keralite elephants during the Sree Poornathrayesa Temple festival.Other forms of art are more religious or tribal in nature. These include chavittu nadakom, oppana (originally from Malabar), which combines dance, rhythmic hand clapping, and ishal vocalisations.
Clothing: The women mostly dress themselves in those wonderful six meters of silk / cotton called 'saree'.The more convenient dresses like Churidar and Western fashion styles are popular among the younger generation. The men mostly subscribe to trousers and shirt like the rest of the world. How ever you shouldn't be surprised if you find them dressed in the traditional "Kasavu Mundu", a three to four meter long cotton twin cloth with silk border, as formal dress and a colourful cloth called "Kaily" or "Lunky" at home as the informal dress. Mundu is more popular in the rural areas. The typical style of a Malayalee is "Mundu", top covered with a silk cloth called "Melmundu" and wooden slippers called as "Methiyadi". The very interesting thing about a Malayalee is his Moustache.
Customs: In temples or private houses it is a custom to take your footwear off. One another custom of handing or accepting something with the right hand only. The left hand is considering being not good one. Women usually don’t shake hands with men. Women greet you with folded hands. The word Hello means in India is "Namaste" or "Namskaram".
Marriage Customs: Kerala has evolved through the ages its own marriage customs and code of morals . The different communities and castes of Kerala have developed over centuries their own typical marriage ceremonies. The Hindus belonging to all castes generally compare the horoscope of the boy with that of the girl and satisfy themselves of their compatibility before the proposal for the marriage. 'Tali tying' and presentation of cloth i.e., pudavokoda in South Kerala and pudamuri in North Kerala have become and essential part of Hindu marriages.
Breakfast: Puttu ( a kind of steam cake made of rice flour and coconut), customarily accompanied by a spicy curry made of Bengal gram and fried pappadams, makes for an authentic Malayalee breakfast. Another is vellayappam ( a pan cake made with a batter of rice flour and yeast) which goes well with potato stew. Substitute the stew with a meat preparation and what you have is a filling. From fluffy idlis, crisp dosas, and uppmavu ( a porridge like dish made with semolina) can be severed with coconut chutney and sambar with a cup of hot, sweet tea lending a perfect finish to your morning repast. Keralites are also justifiably proud of their seafood. Anyone who has experience Kerala seafood will readily agree to its great variety and racy taste. Fish, prawns, crabs etc. all are always available and all will find them most palatable .
Sadhya: Steaming hot rice is served on plantain leaves accompanied by kallan (spiced up curry made of vllarikya and ripe mangoes in butter milk), Olan (white pumpkins, potatoes, and coconut in a wheyey gravy), and erisseri (jackfruit in a thick peppery gravy). The dishes are made predominantly using gourds and pumpkins, mangoes, jackfruit, and coconuts which are found in abundance during the season. Crisp, fried jackfruit fingers and pappadams supplement the typical feast, with payasam made of rice and milk, ending it on a sweet note
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