Kerala - Kollam   

Malayalam New Year celebrated with gaiety

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, AUG. 17. Temple rituals and exchange of greetings and gifts marked the Malayalam New Year celebrations on the occasion of the commencement of the Malayalam month of Chingam here today. Chingam 1 marks the beginning of Kollavarsham 1180.

Traditional attire

All temples were crowded with devotees early in the morning as many began the new year by offering prayers. People, especially women, were seen clad in new traditional attire even at work places. The auspicious kaineettam tradition, of giving monetary presents among family members, added thrill to the celebrations.

Residents association

Many of the residents associations organised special programmes to celebrate the new year. That Kollavarsham has its genesis from Kollam gave more thrust to the celebrations here. Even a couple of educational institutions organised cultural programmes to mark the occasion.

The Asramam Nagar Residents Association celebrated the new year in a unique manner by distributing a kit of vegetables early in the morning to all its members. The patron of the association, K. Gopalan Nair, inaugurated the distribution. Each kit contained vegetables costing more than Rs. 50.

Cultural programme

The cultural organisation, Saparya, organised a special cultural programme at the SN College for Women here to mark the occasion. A beauty contest, `Miss Shaleena', based on traditional Kerala aspects of demeanour and attire, was organised for the students of the college. On the occasion the director of the Nair's Hospital, K.P. Nair, delivered a lecture on `the history of Kollam'. Talks on `qualities of a true Malayali' and `monumental heritages of Kollam' were delivered by the retired professors, Athinad Gopi and N. Ramasamy, respectively.

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