The document describes the author's 1-week trip to Kerala, India with their family. Some key details:
- They traveled by car and plane, arriving in Cochin and then taking a cab to their grandmother's ancestral home in Irjalakuda Pullur.
- They spent time with cousins, visiting relatives, feeding animals on the property, and going to nearby temples including Guruvayoor, Koodalmanikyam, and Thuiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple.
- Other activities included delivering milk with their uncle, climbing trees to pick fruit, playing games, visiting more temples including Chottanikkara and Ettumanoor
The document describes the author's 1-week trip to Kerala, India with their family. Some key details:
- They traveled by car and plane, arriving in Cochin and then taking a cab to their grandmother's ancestral home in Irjalakuda Pullur.
- They spent time with cousins, visiting relatives, feeding animals on the property, and going to nearby temples including Guruvayoor, Koodalmanikyam, and Thuiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple.
- Other activities included delivering milk with their uncle, climbing trees to pick fruit, playing games, visiting more temples including Chottanikkara and Ettumanoor
The document describes the author's 1-week trip to Kerala, India with their family. Some key details:
- They traveled by car and plane, arriving in Cochin and then taking a cab to their grandmother's ancestral home in Irjalakuda Pullur.
- They spent time with cousins, visiting relatives, feeding animals on the property, and going to nearby temples including Guruvayoor, Koodalmanikyam, and Thuiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple.
- Other activities included delivering milk with their uncle, climbing trees to pick fruit, playing games, visiting more temples including Chottanikkara and Ettumanoor
The document describes the author's 1-week trip to Kerala, India with their family. Some key details:
- They traveled by car and plane, arriving in Cochin and then taking a cab to their grandmother's ancestral home in Irjalakuda Pullur.
- They spent time with cousins, visiting relatives, feeding animals on the property, and going to nearby temples including Guruvayoor, Koodalmanikyam, and Thuiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple.
- Other activities included delivering milk with their uncle, climbing trees to pick fruit, playing games, visiting more temples including Chottanikkara and Ettumanoor
had a lot of fun. It was a 1-week trip from 3 rd to 10th march. I went with my mother, brother, my mama and my grandmother. My father could not come as he had a business trip and office. We left at 3:00 and sat in the car. We reached the airport after half an hour and we boarded the flight by 4:00. After some time, we were served food we ate and a little while later at 6:00 we reached cochin airport. We took a cab drove towards Irjalakuda Pullur it was my grandmothers’ ancestral home. We reached their by 7:00 and were welcomed by my Granduncle and a host of relatives waiting eagerly for us. I was super excited thinking about the fun I was going to have here when I saw my twin brothers and their elder sister who is in 10 std waiting for me and my brother, they were just so excited that that they just couldn’t stand still! They held our hand and took us to their pet dog Moti. Firstly I thought that I could touch him as he was so cute but after I went near to touch him he was going to bite me they told me that he bites and they also told me that he eats anything given to him even bird feed! They have 18 lovebirds and many fishes, and another stray dog named Arjun they had a squirrel, but they left it and they also had 2 rabbits and 3 goldfishes and 2 baby sharks and 3 big cows and 1 calf. After meeting them and chatting with them. We went to meet my mother’s cousin sister she was so nice to me and she even allowed me to drink water from the well. She also introduced me to her pets one was a puppy named Max and he also barked at me but after I fed him, he maybe liked me, and she also showed me to her calf named Manikutty. Later we left from there and went back to our uncles house and had dinner there and slept. I slept with the elder sister. This was the end of my first day. The next morning I got up at 7:00 in the morning my mama the twins father asked me that would I like to go with him and deliver milk in his scooter to some of the houses after we came back I saw my cousins getting ready for school after their bath they had breakfast and left for school my cousin sister has her exams so their school has given her preparatory leave so she had to sit at home and study. After my cousins left for school, I had to keep myself busy by roaming here and there and I and my brother were again and again going to the cows and feeding them hay my and we just kept ourselves busy by doing some sort of silly things like going into my another mama’s shop and my brother asks things for free which he readily gives him for eating so even I asked for a packet of chips which he gave we just roamed around the house and in the afternoon we left to Gurvayoor temple and on the way we decided to meet my grandmother’s sister’s son who was also my grandfather’s teacher he was bed ridden for many years and he was funny too. After a while we left to Guruvayoor. Guruvayoor is the is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim towns in India. This temple- town is extremely famous for its large Sree Krishna Temple, believed to one of the 108 most divine Vishnu temples of world. The town is located in Thrissur district, nearly 82 km from Kochi. The temple is regarded as Bhooloka- Vaikuntam or Earthly abode of Lord Vishnu. Thus, the spirituality regains to the core in the town. Guruvayoor Temple is India's 3rd largest temple which attracts more than 7 million devotees annually Hindu mythology says the Lord Krishna used to worship an idol of Lord Vishnu at his palace in legendary Dwarka island, which was first worshipped by his parents. However, Krishna knew that, soon after he leaves this material world to his Vaikunta Dhama, his palace island would wash into seas. He instructed the Deva Guru (Heavenly Saint) Brihaspati and Vayu Deva (Wind God) to take his favourite idol, once Dwarka gets submerged and place it in some other place, where devotees can worship. As instructed by Lord, Guru and Vayu took away the idol, when Dwarka was sinking and was hunting a place to the idol. Soon they would a sacred place where they wished to place the idol. However, a Shiva temple existed in that area, making it difficult to place the idol nearby. Soon on Guru's invocation, Lord Shiva appeared and agreed to move his temple from the sacred place, to install the divine idol. As Guru and Vayu placed the idol and erected a temple in its honour, the place came to be known as Guruvayoor and the deity came to be knew as Guruvayurappan. After the visit to the temple a surprise was awaiting us ahead. We met the latest edition of our family and had dinner with him. After that we went back to our house and instead of staying in that house we were going to another house for some days as it was my cousins exams, so we slept in another house that night. So, this day ended. The next day we went back to our house through a little shortcut by climbing. After reaching there I brushed my teeth and sat to have breakfast and after my breakfast I had some left over of food I took it and gave it to their dog Moti it happily ate it. After some time as usual, I was just roaming around the house doing nothing I and my brother we both fed the cows some hay and we also touched the calf. My aunt gave me some work to do that work was to sweep the floor. After that I asked for some other work then I saw my another cousin sister coming towards my I immediately asked her to play with me and she also gave me a chocolate and an idea to climb the tree and pick amlas there were loads of them I picked all of them and I even fed it to Moti and Arjun. After that we started playing football and an hour after she had to leave, and we also had to leave to the Koodalmanikyam Temple. So, I wore my best dress and left to the temple. The temple comprises the main structure, walled compound with citadels, four ponds around the main structure where in one of the ponds is situated within the walled structure. Koodalmanikyam Temple is the only ancient temple in India dedicated to the worship of Bharata, the third brother of Rama, however the idol is that of Vishnu. "Sangameshwara"(Lord of the Confluence) is another name associated with the deity at Koodalmanikyam. The temple is one of four in Kerala state that form a set called "Nalambalam",[2] each temple dedicated to one of the four brothers in Ramayana: Rama,Bharata, Lakshmana and Sh atrughna There are four ponds that are located in and around the temple. The largest of the four are Kuttan Kulam, located outside the compound on the eastern side, and Kulipini Theertham, located inside the compound. Kulipini Theertham is believed to have been sanctified by the sage KulipiniMaharishi, who held a great ritual sacrifice, a yajna, at the spot. Water from this source is used for rituals and ceremonies within the temple. he custom in most of the temples in Kerala is to have five poojas and three sivelis a day. But in Koodalmanikyam there are only three poojas and no siveli. The deity is taken out for ceremonial procession only during the annual festival. There is no deeparadhana. There are plans to start deeparadhana here. This is the only temple without Deeparadhana. Sticks and camphor are not used for the pooja. The floral offerings to the deity consist of lotus, tulasi (ocimum sanctum) and thechi (ixora). But they are not grown in the temple compound. No other flower is taken for pooja or for making garlands. Lotus garland is an important offering to the deity. A garland will be offered to the deity which does have not less than 101 lotus flowers`. After the viewing of the amazing temple we left to see another temple called Thuiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple The deity is Lord Dharma Shastha in standing posture with arch and a bow. An enchanting shrine amid a dense forest, a gusher of beneficent spirit-that was the temple of Thiruvullakkavu, centuries back. Lord Sastha, the presiding deity, as the divine protector of the whole village settlement, showered benediction on a cultured rave. He rode the boundaries of the settlement on His white charger; the pure, microcosmic soul. Full of devotion, the people revealed in the ineffable tenderness of Sastha. A peaceful refuge for the troubled soul that was Thiruvullakkavu. Kavu is a throbbing beehive of spiritual activities today. Thousands bring their children to this well constructed temple for the initiation into the excitement of knowledge. A child which starts on the alphabets at Kavu is sure to become a scholar, the devotees believe. An unending stream of devotees flow to this temple on Vijaya Dasami, the most auspicious morning of the year for those who seek academic excellence. . After viewing that temple we left to meet my grandmothers sister my aunt we reached there and sat for some time and had some tea and we left to our cousins house. When I came back they were so happy to see us we played and made fire out of stones and we played near it but while I was putting more hay and sticks I burnt my little finger but I was afraid to tell her as I knew that she would whack me so I kept it to myself I was again and again putting my hand in cold water. After some time, I saw that there was a big bubble where I had burnt my hand, I decided to tell my mother when I told her she put some medicine in my hand and then I went to play. After some time it was dinner time and after that we had to sleep in that house I hated that house as it had no fan so we had to keep table fans there as the next day we had to leave at 5:00 to 2 temple Chottanikkara and Ettumanoor and my uncle was not coming with us so I had to travel with my mother grandmother and my brother. So, this day ended. The next day we left at 5:00 and sat in the car and left to Chotanikara the moment I sat in the car I slept. I got up after 2 hours to see my mom trying to wake me up. We entered the temple and saw many beautiful sights. Chotanikkara temple Devi Temple is a famous temple of mother goddess Bhagavati. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India and is one of the most popular temples in the state. In terms of temple architecture, Chottanikkara temple stands out to be an ultimate testimonial for the ancient vishwakarma sthapathis (wooden sculpture) along with Sabarimala temple. Sree Mahamaya Bhagavati (Adi Parashakti), the goddess of power, is one of the most popular deities in Kerala and the supreme mother goddess in Hinduism. Chottanikkara Devi(Melekavu Bhagavathi) is worshipped at the temple, in three different forms: as Mahasaraswati in the morning, draped in white; Mahalakshmi at noon, draped in crimson; and as Mahakali in the evening, decked in blue. Goddess 'Keezhkkaavu bhagavathi' is believed to be Bhadrakali, in her fierce form or Ugra form. Bhadrakali, is a form of mother Kali, supposed to be born from the third eye of lord Shiva, to kill the demon king Darika. People suffering from mental illnesses & commonly visit the temple, as Chottanikkara devi is said to cure her devotees. Guruthi pooja is a ritual done at late evening to invoke goddess Mahakali. The best part of the temple was that there were hanging plastic dolls which shows the sprits and all the ghosts. It was afternoon and our driver had also gone in the temple with us, so he took time by that time we went to buy something from the nearby shop and my mother brough a Kathakali keychain for me and a baby Krishna keychain for shlok my mother brought a Krishna idol for keeping at home. After a while, the driver came, and we left from the temple and were sitting in the car I was so bored and exited that finally I was getting to play with them. After 2 hours of waiting and sleeping I got up and saw that we had reached I jumped out of the car and when the twins saw me, I saw a smile in their faces I ran inside the house and changed my clothes and ran to play with them. After lunch we had a delicious orange ice creme. After some time my cousin was making Black forest cake but before I could run to her and ask her that could I also help my uncle stopped me and told me to sleep I didn’t want to sleep but I had no choice I went and slept for an hour. After an hour of sleep I got up and saw that my twin cousin going for their tuition classes and they would come only after an hour but an hour was too much and there was nothing to do what I could only was just sit and wait or play with my brother. After an hour they came back, and we had the delicious homemade cake after that we played for some time and had dinner went to sleep in the other house. Now this day also ended. The next day my cousins left to school and again I was left alone…... but then after lunch at 3 we left to go to my mother’s cousins house in a tum-tum. After half an hour we reached his house and I saw a big garden and a lot of space to play. After play and wandering for some time we left and went to their house there I was welcomed by my Uncle and my second cousins who were elder to my after an hour my aunt came from office and welcomed us and after her bathe she made us delicious Banana Fritters!!! . Later after chatting for a while we left to go to another uncles house, he had come to pick us up. After a 15 min drive, we reached their house and saw that they had a dog named Jackie. I was surprised as it started to bark so loud that I nearly became deaf, but he was cute, and his eyes were like marbles. After some chatting me and my brother were given mobile to play and after an hour, we ate our dinner and slept and again day ended so fast! The next day after breakfast we left to my mother’s another cousins house after a 10 min walk, we reached her house and my mother and my grandmother started to chat while we were busy playing games in my aunts mobile after some time we ate idiyappam and went to view the place we saw a swing and after a long time we left to go back to the twins house ad also I was jumping with happiness and afterward reached the house and I saw my another cousin digging in the soil then I remembered that I had to go fishing that day I ran out to meet him and he said that he was collecting worms for fishing after some time we left for fishing. But first I wasn’t getting even 1 fish but later I did and I caught 2 fish and my brother caught 3 fishes with the help of the experts [the twins] after some fishing we headed home and then after a bathe we again left to go to my mother’s another cousins house and it took only 10 min to reach there and I was allowed to feed the dog touch him and of course watch T.V. After an hour of continues chatting we ate our dinner which was idiyappam I loved it! After our dinner I watched T.V and at 1 went to sleep and this beautiful day got over. In the morning I woke up and after brushing I went to play and feed the calf. After a while I ate my breakfast and went to water their vegetable patch. It was a long work and after that I got a hair massage from my mother’s cousin and went to take bathe and after that I ate my lunch. After a while we went to her mill and played there, we made mod balls it was so much fun but after some time we left and back to the twins house. I was sad that the next day I had to go home as it had been a wonderful week and I was also happy because my cousins had no school, so I had a day to play with them! After dinner I slept, and this day ended. The next day I woke up did my things and sat to eat breakfast and after that went to play with them I was exited but my mother asked me to take bath and had to go to see the temple fair I saw things like people were rotating with things on top of their head and I was surprised as those big things looked heavy….. after a while we left and ate some candy on the way. After I reached their house, I ate my lunch and played with the twins in the mud. Soon It was evening and we had packed our bags and it was time to go home and I was sad and at the same time happy as this was……... the best trip to god’s own country!!!