Hanukkha

The Jewish festival of the lamps. Just like our Diwali the celebration of light symbolising the victory of good over the evil. Almost 2000 years ago when successors of Alexander the great based in Syria attacked Israel continuously and imposed Hellenistic way of worship at the holy temple in Jerusalem, the faithful's who resisted it were put to death mercilessly. Finally, when it reached a point of new return, a time when they had to either die or accept the Hellenistic idols as Gods, Judas Maccabees took the lead and came out fighting.
With a small group of men they decisively drove out their much stronger and larger enemies one by one. After months of fighting when they retook Jerusalem and the Holy temple they were short of resources. They had oil only for one day to light the lamps at the temple.
The lamp miraculously burned for eight days continuously before oil could be arranged.
Hanukkah is the festival in memory of these eight days. On each day they light a candle and sit together in prayer.

We enjoy relating Jewish stories with the tourists.

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After almost all the fishing boats have moored safely in the harbour after the long day, the small boats arrive from the sea with their catch. The busy sorting and selling liven up the late evenings of Fort Cochin.


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Edapally Church

When the old Edapally church was built in 593 AD, there was no Fort Cochin. Even when it was rebuilt in 1080 AD there was not even a glimpse of Cochin. Folklore has it, there was sea uptill Edapally in those days. Cochin's landscape changed with the flood in 1341, with new islands coming up between Edapally and the Sea. 

Traditionally Edapally St. George Church is the refuge for the people all around the area for centuries. In our agrarian past and more nature oriented life style, St. George at Edapally offered protection from poisonous reptiles and blessed the faithfuls abundantly with rich harvest. Everybody came to St. George, irrespective of their religion.

When the new church at Edapally was consecrated on April 19th, 2015, we are happy it suits the splendour and grace in which the saint is venerated by all, over the years. The thousands who visits the Saint on the feast days have a comfortable space to sit and pray now.

Vishu

Yellow themed prosperity festival, which marks the beginning of the year, is one of the dearest and favourite festivals in Kerala. Everyone wakes up early and bows before the preset bowl of abundance which has all the summer harvest produce - Mangoes, jackfruit, flowers, kumkum and the idol of lovely Krishna. An auspicious way of starting the new year, Vishu also denotes the summer equinox.

In the 9th Century, the Travancore King convened a meeting of the scholars and set the calendar with few changes and started anew. So in Kerala, unlike the rest of the country, the new year starts in Chingam, the malayalam month, which falls in August - September in the Onam days.

The festival is a great way to connect with the past when life was more nature bound, the typical phrases and the entertainment involved in these days are great nostalgic reminders of the days and the people who went by.

Fort Cochin Carnival

Tourists taking pictures at Veli while waiting for the start.

 The Cochin Carnival started with the Portuguese. We do not know  how the tradition survived during the Calvinist Dutch period when most of the Catholics were sent out of the Fort. After the Independence, the Carnival is taken over and kept alive by our local enthusiasts who are doing a wonderful job in the last few years.

The excitement, the thrill, the crowd has not changed over the years. We always wanted to be at Fort Cochin on the New Year Day to be part of the spirit.

Cochin is one in spirit when it comes the Carnival. This year we have seen unprecedented crowd both during the New Year Eve and also on the Carnival Day. Yes, the spirit of Cochin is spreading.

Participants refreshing themselves just before the start.

The crowds thronged the street when the carnival procession passed by.

The floats were interesting and innovative in their themes and installation.