EDITORIAL VOL 01 ISSUE 3
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the June –July 2018 Monsoon issue of your favourite magazine the Kerala Travel Explorer!
Kerala is fortunate to have two monsoon seasons. First, the southwest monsoon that arrives in the month of June which is called Edavappathy in Malayalam, as it comes in the middle of the month of Edavam as per Malayalam calendar. The Malayalam calendar is more relied on by the Malayalees than the Gregorian calendar. The next monsoon season is the north-east monsoon which comes in the middle of October or during the month of Thulam, and hence called Thulavarsham. Kerala becomes nothing less than a lush green rain forest during the monsoon and it’s a sight to behold. June is the time when schools reopen in Kerala and you can see school children in uniforms of various hues, holding up their umbrellas’ or wearing colorful raincoats walking on the roads in groups or waiting at the bus stand to be picked up, some naughty ones playing and splashing water from the rain water puddles that form up. Kerala is a real enchantress in monsoon.
As usual, we make sure our editorial content is strong and engaging. This time too we have put together an interesting array of travel and destination stories like Kovalam, Kuthira Malikka and Laurie Baker Architecture from Thiruvanthapuram, Mankulam in Munnar, Iringole Kavu in Ernakulam, and Houseboats of Alappuzha. Kerala is home to all major faiths and sects and Syrian Christians are a popular sect and their marriages have some interesting practices which are common with their Hindu ancestors. Read the article to get enlightened about some really fascinating practices followed till date. Since our release coincides with the Ramzan period being observed by Muslims, we have a special feature on Iftar treats during Ramzan. We also have exclusive interviews with several multifaceted personalities from the state, including conversations with the Director of Kerala Tourism, and actors from Malayalam film industry like Unni Mukundan and Prayaga Martin, Mohiniyattam exponent Soumya Shankar, and Handloom Entepreneur Sobha Vishwanath.
As nature recoups with the rains, it is rejuvenation time for humans too. According to Ayurveda, monsoon is the best season for rejuvenation therapies. During the monsoon season, the atmosphere remains dust-free and cool, opening the pores of the body to the maximum, making it most receptive to herbal oils and therapy. The art forms of Kerala demand utmost dedication and training. These native art forms require complete control over every nerve of the body. As part of this training, the artists undergo Ayurvedic therapies. Special herbal oils and medications are applied on the body of the artist during the Monsoon time to ensure muscle flexibility and dexterity of movement. Read on more about this in our story on Monsoon Ayurveda.
Finally, I would like to thank you all for the wonderful and encouraging feedback that you have been sending, and I assure you all the meaningful suggestions are being considered and implemented. So keep them coming.
Until next time!
DEEPAK N NAIR
Editor
