Another Holiday Mood ..

Holidays are always fun... !!!!!!!!

Enjoy Holidays....

From The Beach Shot

Look at your back... yes ......

Its a view of Coconut fields, Poovar river ... Beach sands.....

Some snaps of a resort also view in far...

Clouds are ready to deliver ...

Coconut Fields in one sides, Sea faces the river and Clouds are ready to deliver the rain drops to the banks of Poovar.... Its the beauty... Its the fantastic feeling.. Its amazing... Cool.....!!!!!!!!!!

Another Snap of Rain Clouds

See the beauty of Rain clouds , End of Poovar River , Point at which the River meets Sea.

Beauty Of Rain In Poovar Beach

Rain in kerala is a special beauty.

The skies turn almost black. Heavy clouds loom in ominous silence over the tree tops for an interminably long time before they burst forth in rain. It hits the earth with an unbelievable force, almost physically beating up the shrubs and washing the trees clean of the dusty summer. The monsoon season in Kerala is beginning to be a great tourist attraction. It is a wonderful sight to see the rain come pouring down as you sit in the safety of your houseboat, in splendid isolation in the middle of a lagoon or a river.Its what a difference in Poovar. Enjoy the beauty of rain.

Play time at the beach

Usually on holiday evenings, beach is very rush and people entertained several games.

One of the Holiday mood...

Poovar Meets Its Sea ..

Look at the point , at which the Poovar river meets sea; where the salt water from the sea and the fresh water from the rivers meet and mix. Its so beautiful at the time 7 - 7.30. Its bluesh cool colour.

A Voyage Through Poovar River....

A Beautiful Evening... cool breeze....

Look at this image, the time is 7.30 PM...

A voyage through Poovar river... its a nice feeling ...

Sun Set at Poovar Beach

A Beautiful Cool Sun Set At Poovar Beach... Enjoy !!

Valentines Day in Kerala

Dont take the following picture as serious. This is take from one of my friends mail. Just add this foto here for a situation making. Imagine How valentines day to our Kerala's old people ?? Is it funny... imagine... this is just a imagination......

ENJOY VALENTINES DAY.....but dont forget other days .... all days are for love...... but this is a special day for love.....

Wishing You a Special lovely Day..... ie; Valentines Day

Valentines Day Special

Valentine's Day History

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialised. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.


The History of Saint Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.
The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.

The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feaSt. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.

St. Valentine's Story

Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.
Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!

Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favourite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.

One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.

I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.

One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!

Good morning to you, valentine;
Curl your locks as I do mine ---
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, valentine.

Poovar Bridge from Poovar River

A View of famous Poovar Bridge from Poovar River. Its beauty....

Both Banks of Poovar River

What a view ... view of both banks of poovar river.....

What a feeling ....

In A Boat Through Poovar

Boat through a river is a special one. But its Poovar River ...a Very Special One.... Both banks thickly with coconut palm fields.Its all greenish. Its a cold, Sweetness , rare feelings and more....

Banks of Poovar River

Another Snap Shot ..... Voyage through Poovar River.... Enjoy the beauty

Through Poovar Rivar (Neyyar River)

Poovar River (Neyyar River)originates from Agastyakoodam Hills. The river passes through Neyyattinkara taluk into the Arabian Sea near Poovar. It has a length of 56 km Kallar, Mullayar, and Karavaliyar are the tributaries of this river.

Poovar : A Coconut Field View

Coconut palm is rich in kerala. The coconut tree(Cocos nucifera)is an integral part of the landscape of Kerala.
Coconuts in Kerala are used extensively in the delicious cuisine of this state. The juice of the tender coconut is drunk fresh, the soft flesh of the tender coconut is eaten raw, and the mature flesh is grated and added to curries or added as garnishing in either fresh or fried form. Coconut oil is extracted from the dry flesh of the coconut and is used for cooking.

A Village Lady Busy In Her Business

A Village Lady walk through the coast and selling fruits. She is busy in her business. Cocument , Mango, Strawberry, Cucumber etc are the items to sell. You can see several like women there.She is in her natural village dress.

Poovar Coast: A Typical View

Poovar in its Natural Coastal Beauty .

Beauty Of Poovar

Just the sound of the waves to keep you company. And, of course, the backwater canals with their coconut groves and thatched villages. That is Poovar. Thirty kilometers from the state capital of Trivandrum, on the banks of the Neyyar river and you are in Poovar. The place has developed into a first-class up-market tourist destination, minus the crowds.

Poovar is a small coastal village in the Trivandrum district of Kerala state, south India. This village is almost at the southern tip of Trivandrum. This village has a beautiful beach which attracts tourists. There are also some good tourist resorts.

The legned is that the stream was named as "POOVAR" as the Raja described the river as "POO-AAR" ( meaning a stream of flowers). The beauty and greenery of the picturesque and unparallel silence of Poovar captured the mind of the Maharaja.

From here you can view some snaps from poovar....

Mahabali - Legend Behind Onam

Comments: The legend of King Mahabali is the most popular and the most fascinating of all legends behind Onam. Onam celebrates the visit of King Mahabali to the state of Kerala every year. The festival is celebrated with fervour as King Mahabali is greatly respected by his subjects. King Mahabali is also popularly called Maveli and Onathappan.

Contest: Onam Festival in a organisation

Sadya - Typical Kerala Feast

Comments: The typical Kerala feast served on a banana leaf, is a sumptuous spread of rice and more than 14 vegetable dishes, topped with `payasam', the delicious sweet dessert cooked in milk. Usual food items are Rice ,Avil ,Thoren , Sambar ,Olen ,Kaalen,Rasam,Pachadi,Paayasam,Snacks,Sweets.
Contest: A Onam Festival Sadya

ATHAPOOKKALAM - ONOTHER SNAP

Contest:Onother Snap from Same venue

ATHAPOOKKALAM - ONOTHER SNAP

Contest: A onother snap from the same venue.

ATHAPOOKKALAM - ONAM FLOWER ART SHOW

Comments: When a person think about "KERALA - GODS OWN COUNTRY", first comes to mind is our Harvest Festival , called ONAM. "ATHAPPOOKKALAM" is the one of richest flower art show during onam days. Several competitions are also organized by several , clubs, colleges, organisations etc.

Contest: Here is one of the snaps which i taken from a competition during onam festival.