Table of Contents
What type of Muslims are in Kerala?
The calculated Muslim population (Indian Census, 2011) in Kerala state is 8,873,472. Most of the Muslims in Kerala follow Sunni Islam of Shāfiʿī School of thought, while a large minority follow modern movements (such as Salafism) that developed within Sunni Islam.
Which caste is most illiterate in India?
Jains
Muslims have the highest number of illiterates — nearly 43 percent of their population — while Jains have the highest number of literates among India’s religious communities with over 86 percent of them educated.
Why beef is popular in Kerala?
The rise in the popularity of beef dishes may also have a political reason. Embracing a multi-religious cuisine, especially for upper caste Hindus, was deemed essential to shedding caste and communal prejudices. Having beef was a political act as well.
How did Kerala become a multicultural society?
Formation of a multicultural society. Buddhism and Jainism reached Kerala in this early period. As in other parts of ancient India, Buddhism and Jainism co-existed with early Hindu beliefs during the first five centuries. Merchants from West Asia and Southern Europe established coastal posts and settlements in Kerala.
What is the most famous festival of Kerala?
Perhaps the most famous festival of Kerala, Onam, is deeply rooted in Kerala traditions. Onam is associated with the legendary king Mahabali (Maveli), who according to tradition and Puranas, ruled the Earth and several other planetary systems from Kerala. His entire kingdom was then a land of immense prosperity and happiness.
What are the legends about the origin of Kerala?
There are legends dealing with the origins of Kerala geographically and culturally. One such legend is the retrieval of Kerala from the sea, by Parasurama, a warrior sage. It proclaims that Parasurama, an Avatar of Mahavishnu, threw His battle axe into the sea. As a result, the land of Kerala arose, and thus was reclaimed from the waters.
How did the British gain control of Kerala?
After the Dutch were defeated by Travancore king Marthanda Varma, the British crown gained control over Kerala through the creation of the Malabar District in northern Kerala and by allying with the newly created princely state of Travancore in the southern part of the state until India was declared independent in 1947.