Gramam: The Kerala Village Fair

Mid-January is the time for cultural events in and around Kovalam to celebrate the Kerala Village Fair. During this ten-day festival, a typical Kerala village is created with thatched houses called Nalukettu (traditional upper-class homesteads with a central open courtyard, long and airy corridors, massive pillars and dormer windows), and the houses are decorated with a wealth of antiques like ethnic jewelry, ancient paintings, shields and swords. In the evenings, classical dances like Kathakali, Mohiniyattom, traditional folk dances like Oppana, the martial art form Kalaripayattu and other folk arts are performed in the open-air auditoriums.

Gramam, Kerala village fair, January 14-24, Eve’s beach, Kovalam.