KERALA

CAPITAL-THIRUVANTHAPURAM

LIST OF CHEIF MINISTERS OF KERALA

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
01	E.M.S. Namboodiripad	05 April 1957	31 July 1957	Communist Party Of India
02	Pattom Thanupillai	22 February 1960	26 September 1962	Praja Socialist Party
03	R. Sankar	26 September 1962	10 September 1964	Indian National Congress
04	E.M.S. Namboodiripad	06 March 1967	01 November 1969	Communist Party Of India(Marxist)
05	C. Achutha Menon	01 November 1969	01 August 1970	Communist Party Of India
06	C. Achutha Menon	04 October 1970	25 March 1977	Communist Party Of India
07	K. Karunakaran	25 March 1977	25 April 1977	Indian National Congress
08	A.K.Antony	27 April 1977	27 October 1978	Indian National Congress
09	P.K.Vasudevan Nair	29 October 1978	07 October 1979	Comunist Party Of India
10	C.H.Mohammed Koya	12 October 1997	01 December 1979	Indian Union Muslim League
11	E.K.Nayanar	25 January 1980	20 October 1981	Communist Party Of India(Marxist)
12	K.Karunakaran	28 December 1981	17 March 1982	Indian National Congress
13	K.Karunakaran	24 May 1982	25 March 1987	Indian National Congress
14	E.K.Nayanar	26 March 1987	17 June 1991	Communist Party Of India(Marxist)
15	K.Karunakaran	24 June 1991	16 March 1995	Indian National Congress
16	A.K.Antony	22 March 1995	09 May 1996	Indian National Congress
17	E.K.Nayanar	20 May 1996	13 May 2001	Communist Party Of India(Marxist)
18	A.K.Antony	17 May 2001	29 August 2004	Indian National Congress
19	Oommen Chandy	31 August 2004	18 May2006	Indian National Congress
20	V.S.Achuthanandan	18 May 2006	14 May 2011	Communist Party Of India(Marxist)
21	Oommen Chandy	May 2011	Incumbent	Indian National Congress

ELECTED POLITICAL OFFICIALS OF KERALA

Lok Sabha Members of Kerala

S.NO.	CONSTITUENCY	NAME OF MEMBER	PARTY
01	Alappuzha	Venugopal , Shri K.C.	INC
02	Alathur	Biju , Shri P.K.	CPI(M)
03	Attingal	Sampath , Shri Anirudhan	CPI(M)
04	Chalakudy	Dhanaplan , Shri K.P.	INC
05	Emakulam	Thomas , Prof. K.V.	INT
06	Idukki	Thomas , Shri P.T.	INT
07	Kannur	Sudhankaran , Shri K.	INT
08	Kasaragod	Karunakaran , Shri P.	CPI(M)
09	Kollam	Peethambarakurup , Shri N.	INT
10	Kottayam	Mani , Shri Jose K.	KEC(M)
11	Kozhikode	Raghavan , Shri M.K.	INT
12	Malappuram	Ahamad , Shri E.	MLKSC
13	Mavelikkara	Kodikunnil , Shri Suresh	INT
14	Palakkad	Rajesh , Shri M.B.	CPI(M)
15	Pathanamthitta	Antony , Shri Anto Punnathaniyil	INT
16	Ponnani	Basheer, Shri E.T. Muhammed	MLKSC
17	Thiruvananthapuram	Tharoor , Dr. Shashi	INT
18	Thrissur	Chacko , Shri P.C.	INT
19	Vadakara	Mullappally , Shri Ramachandran	INT
20	Wayanad	Shanavas , Shri M.I.	INT

Rajya Sabha Members of Kerala

#	Name	Party
01	Abdul Wahab Peevee Shri	ML
02	Achuthan Shri M.P.	CPI
03	Antony Shri A.K.	INC
04	Ismail Shri K.E.	CPI
05	Kurien Prof. P.J.	INC
06	Rajan Shri P.R.	CPI(M)
07	Rajeeve Shri P.	CPI(M)
08	Ravi Shri Vayalar	INC
09	Vijayaraghavan Shri A.	CPI(M)

OCCUPATION

Agriculture-

Majority of the population are agrarian. Rice, coffee, tea, rubber and various spices are the main cultivations of Kerala. The highlands of Kerala have plantations of tea and coffee. Rice and other vegetations are found in the lowlands. Kerala is the spice capital of India and various spices are exported to Indian states and foreign countries.

Fishing-

Fishing is a source of livelihood to majority of people; the fishing community mostly lives in the seashores and backwater villages. Lots of fresh sea fish are exported to various parts of the country. The modern transportation helped to get a good market. Fishing isn’t a source of livelihood only, now it is a part of cultural life.

Human Potential Export-

Kerala has highest NRIs in various parts of the world. Skilled workers and highly educated youngsters migrate to Gulf and western countries in search of better income. Immigration rate is increasing to other west countries of the world except Gulf countries.

FOOD

DRESS

IMPORTANT PLACE

Kovalam Beach

The beauty of Kerala cannot be just written or explained, it has to be experienced. Fringed with coconut palms that carpet the land from hills to shores, Kerala, the south-western state of India, is a land of many enchantments and a number of places to see. Emerald green backwaters drench every pockets of this leaf-shaped country. Sun-kissed golden sands sprawled on the pristine Kerala beaches snatch every emotion of a solitary traveller. Dark, deep forest reserves carrying spicy aroma houses many exotic species in their sleeves. And above all, it is the magic of Ayurveda, that refreshes you again and again for a more exhilarating journey and you continue to do so in this God's Own Country.

Famous Places in Kerala-

• Thiruvananthapuram
• Munnar
• Thekkady
• Thrissur
• Kasargod
• Kochi
• Alleppey
• Kollam
• Palakkad
• Malappuram
• Kozhikode
• Wayanad
• KottayamS
• Kannur

LANGUAGE

Malayalam

FESTIVALS

Onam Festival-

Onam is celebrated in Kerala when the August monsoon rains give way to the pleasant warmth of autumn. Onam is the celebration of the return of Mahabali, the once and future king. This king ruled "when all men were equal, when no one was poor, when there was neither theft nor dread of thieves.

Kerala Boat Festivals-

On the great backwaters of Kerala, fierce Vallom Kallies (boat races) and water carnivals erupt every year in a dramatic spectacle and hold tens of thousands of people spell-bound, cheering the action, laying bets, goading the boatmen to row faster. The water carnivals and snake boat races herald the week of the great harvest festival of Onam. It is Kerala's most important celebration and in scores of villages spread across central Kerala, competitive races featuring the smaller churulans, oadis, and irrutukuthies provide expression to the spirit of an intrepid, athletic people, born and bread near water.

Vishu Festival-

Vishu falls on the first of Medam (March-April), which is the Malayali New Year's Day. Since it is considered propitious to view good things on this day for year round good fortune, Vishu morning is an important time in Kerala.

Thrissur Pooram Festival-

The most spectacular festival of Kerala is Thrissur Pooram. Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state, introduced this festival. Celebrated in Medom (April-May) the festival parades the fulgent faces of Kerala culture. With every passing year Tthrissur Pooram, the temple festival, attracts large masses of devotees and spectators to Kerala.

Payippad Jelotsavam Festival-

Payippad Jelotsavam held in memory for the Prathista ceremony of Haripad Subramanya temple and therefore has a religious significance. This festival is celeberated for three days commencing from the Onam festival day. Snake boat processions are taken out on the first two days and competitive boat race take place on the third day.

Attukal Pongala Festival-

Attukal Pongala this is the one and the only temple festival in the world where lakhs of women assembled together to make offerings by cooking a pudding for the goddess in the Attukal temple. It is taken home after the chief priest of the temple will come and sprinkle the holy water and will shower the flowers. This festival will come to an end in the evening with a procession from the temple.

Makaravillakku at Sabarimala Festival-

For centuries, Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta has been a major pilgrim centre in Kerala attracting lakhs of devotees from all over India, more so from the southern states. The presiding deity is Lord Ayyappa known as Dharma Sastha, a considered symbol of unity between Vaishnavites and Saivites.

Christmas Festival-

With a large number of Christian population in Kerala, Christmas is a festival that is celebrated with much vigour and enthusiasm in the state. Easter is also an important festival in the state. The numerous churches that are spread across the state brighten up around this time.

Theyyam Festival-

Theyyam is one of the popular festivals of Kerala. It is the worship of the deity; on the other hand, the dancer is also the deity. Theyyam celebrates primarily the Mother Goddess. Animals, serpents and trees also figure in worship.

Other important festivals of Kerala are Eid, Muharram, and other festivals that are traditionally celebrated all over the country.