Write@Home
Winter 2015

Homeland

A houseboat sailing in Alappuzha backwaters in Kerala state in India

Kerala is a picture-postcard place, and it is the southern state of India, which is known as God's own country. I am proud to be myself because I was born in this beautiful region. People speak Malayalam. Kerala has been the spice hotspot of the world since ancient times. It has beautiful land, rich green landscapes, and crystal-clear beaches such as Lighthouse Beach in Kovalam, Varkala Beach, and Alappuzha Beach. Hence it is rightly called God’s Own Country. Kerala has so many wonderful destinations that anyone who wants to explore new places should visit it. Kerala is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.

According to Hindu mythology, Parashuraam created Kerala with his axe. He threw the axe into the water, and the water receded to make the place of land which is the modern Kerala. Parashuraam is believed to be the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu.

I always enjoyed beaches, backwaters, hill stations, houseboats, history, and amusement parks in Kerala. The best time to visit Kerala is from September to March because most of the rainfall occurs in June, July, and August.

Kerala is also known as the "Spice Capital of India" due to its historical significance in the spice trade. My city "Kozhikode" is the spice city of India. My state’s major spices are pepper, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, curry leaves, ginger, and turmeric. There are a lot of curry leaves trees and pepper plants in my house in Kerala. Thus, Kerala is famous for its rich and flavourful cuisine, which reflects the state's diverse cultural influences and plentiful use of spices.

In addition, Kerala celebrates several major festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Some of the significant celebrations in Kerala are Onam, Vishu, Christmas, Eid-ul-Fitr. Onam is the most important and widely celebrated festival in Kerala. It is a harvest festival that falls in the month of August or September and lasts for ten days. The highlight of Onam is the grand feast called Onam Sadya, which consists of a variety of traditional vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf. I am really missing Kerala and I love Kerala!