Presentation

PRESENTATION

Agriculture in earlier days usually meant paddy cultivation and it is so linked with the life of people of kerala that even today no religious function goes without paddy or rice. Phoenicians, Arabs, Romans, Greeks, Chinese and many European nations were attracted to this land from the time immemorial for the world class spices, teakwood and gems and now as a tourist spot. Thrissur is located almost in the center of the state and is known as the cultural capital of kerala. Onam is the national festival of kerala and is a harvest festival which is celebrated by all the people, the rich and the poor.

Palm Leaf Inscription

In ancient days, oral transmission was the only means of spreading knowledge. Later, when knowledge in all fields diversified and also to store these vast amounts of knowledge for the future generations, the need for recording arose and different types of easily available materials were used for recording purposes. Palm leaves were the traditional inscribing materials of kerala. Leaves of two species of palms were in use. Borassus flabellifer.linn and Corypha umbraculifera.linn There were indigenous techniques to produce and preserve such materials.


	Narayam or Zhuthani( writing nail )
	The instrument used for inscribing on palm leaf sheaves is an iron spike of various lengths, shapes and weights. Some are about 24cms long and weighing nearly 500 grams.

	Reading Fine soot from traditional firewood burned hearths is rubbed on to the inscribed surface to highlight the text. Palm leaf books are of various sizes, as small as 10 cm to 60 cm and the usual length is 45 cm. The palm leaf books will remain intact for many years by proper preservation techniques.

Ecological Concept Of Ancient Farming Communities

	Kathirukoodu (paddy ear head bouquet)
	Kathirukoodu is a plaited bunch of paddy earheads shaped like a bouquet and is usually hung in the pooja rooms (prayer rooms). Daily during prayers the smoke and heat from the lighted oil lamps and camphor will make the ear heads dry and preserve it from the attacks of insects and pests. Conservation encapsulated in religion.
	Illamnira (granary filling)
	A traditional custom practiced in the first Sunday after the new moon in the Malayalam month karkidakam corresponding to July – Aug. Two or three earheads are pasted, using cowdung, on to the important places like, the front main door of the house, prayer rooms, cattle shed, pathayam wooden (a structure where paddy, rice and paddy seeds are stored), to bestow prosperity. The act shows the reverence given to the eco system ---man, animals, plants and soil.

	Mambookattal
	A special method of paddy seed preparation to produce healthy plants.

	Mundiyankalasom
	Three to four hours long ritual to invoke gods to protect cattle and bestow blessing to have a good yield, remnant of tribal culture, practiced during the night of new moon of Karkidakom (July-Aug.).

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