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Kerala’s Vishu Poster Uproar: Multiple FIRs, Arrests, and a Roadmap for Interfaith Harmony
Kerala’s Vishu poster controversy began in Alappuzha and spread to other districts, including Malappuram, after an advertisement depicted Lord Krishna with a non-vegetarian dish. Multiple FIRs were registered and three individuals were arrested as police opened investigations into potential offences concerning religious sentiments and public order. This analysis situates the episode within India’s constitutional framework,…
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Kerala Vishu Poster Furor: Chicken Mandi Before Shri Krishna Spurs Arrest, Harmony Lessons
A Vishu greeting poster from a Kerala restaurant that placed chicken mandi before an image of Shri Krishna triggered public outcry and a police arrest, spotlighting the high sensitivity of sacred symbols in India. The analysis explains why Vishukkani Darshan, vegetarian naivedya, and South Asian visual grammar made the imagery read as an offering, not…
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Vishukkani Vili of North Malabar: Children’s Calls, Community Joy, and Vishu’s Living Heritage
Vishukkani Vili is a living North Malabar custom in Kerala that brings the spirit of Vishu—the Malayalam New Year—out of the home and into the village street. At dawn, groups of children move house to house calling ‘vishukaniye, vishukaniye.’, receiving modest tokens that formalize generosity and goodwill. This article explains the astronomical and cultural logic…
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Kumbha Masam 2026 in Kerala: Dates, Key Festivals, and Timeless Traditions to Cherish
Kumbha Masam (Kumbham), the seventh month of the Malayalam calendar, runs from February 14 to March 13 in 2026. This period in Kerala is revered for calm devotion, community-centered rituals, and an emphasis on seva, dana, and vrata. Hallmark observances include Kumbha Bharani Utsavam, centered on Bharani Nakshatra, and Attukal Pongala, one of the world’s…
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Bhagavata Saptaham: A Seven-Day Bhakti Journey through Kerala’s Timeless Living Heritage
Bhagavata Saptaham in Kerala offers a seven-day immersion in the Srimad Bhagavatam, blending sacred storytelling, devotional music, and community service into a living tradition of Hindu spirituality. Rooted in the sages’ inquiry at Naimisaranya and the dialogue of Śuka and Parīkṣit, the practice deepens both intellectual understanding and emotional devotion. Kerala’s temple courtyards and homes…
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Surpanakha in Kerala Folklore: A Gripping Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Sacred Justice
This article explores a compelling Kerala folktale in which Surpanakha is depicted as killing her husband, highlighting how regional Ramayana variants deepen ethical reflection. It situates Surpanakha within the sacred lineage of Pulastya, Vishrava, and Ravana while examining how Kerala’s oral tradition reframes her agency and motives. The discussion analyzes themes of raudra rasa and…
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Vrischika Masam 2025: The Complete Kerala Calendar Guide to Vrischikam Dates and Rituals
Vrischika Masam 2025 (Vrischikam month) in the Malayalam calendar runs from 17 November to 15 December, spanning 29 days in Kolla varsham 1201. As the fourth month of the Kerala calendar, it aligns with the Sun’s transit through Vṛścikam and inaugurates the Sabarimala Mandala Kalam. Households commonly emphasize vrata, early temple visits, and lamp-lighting traditions…
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Discover Dhanu Masam 2025–2026: Essential Malayalam Calendar Dates, Rituals, and Festivals
Dhanu Masam 2025–2026 in the Malayalam calendar runs from 16 December 2025 to 14 January 2026. The month is the fifth in Kerala’s traditional calendar and includes two major highlights: the forty-five-day Sabarimala Mandala Kalam Puja and the Thiruvathira festival. Temple observances emphasize discipline, devotion, and cultural arts like Thiruvathirakali. Astronomically, Dhanu aligns with the…
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Thula Masam 2025 Dates: The Complete Guide to Thulam Month and Thula Sankramanam
Thula Masam (Thulam), the third month of the Malayalam calendar, spans 18 October to 16 November in 2025. Anchored by Thula Sankramanam—the Sun’s transit into Thula rashi (Libra)—the month aligns astronomical precision with cultural practice. The guide clarifies dates, explains the solar basis of the observance, and outlines how communities in Kerala and Malabar engage…
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The Origin of Onam
The popular narrative of Onam revolves around the story of King Mahabali and Lord Vamana, portraying Mahabali as a martyr and Vishnu as a villain. This version doesn’t align with the true essence of the scriptures. In reality, the story is more nuanced. Vishnu’s avatar, Vamana, came to address the balance between the devas and…