Cochin Carnival
Welcome sign to the event at Harbour Bridge
Dates23 December to 1 January
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Fort Kochi, Kerala, India
Years active1984–present

Cochin Carnival is an entertainment event held every year in the last week of December at Fort Kochi in the city of Kochi, Kerala.[1] This event is held mostly during the last two weeks of December and finally ends on 1 January. It is officially inaugurated with hoisting the Indian national flag at the Vasco da Gama Square.[2]

The main highlight of the carnival is the massive procession on the New Year's Day, led by elephants in ornamental trappings. North Indian dances are a part of the procession. It is a combination of different cultures like Portuguese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalee, Kannada, Arab, Dutch, and Anglo Indian culture.[3]

Many competitions like beach bike race, beach football, wrestling, boxing, cycle race, bullet race, kayaking, swimming and marathon races are held.[4] Art shows, food festivals, colourful rallies and fairs add to the festive spirit of the carnival. The main principles promoted during the festival are Participation, Peace, Progress, Adventure and Environment. The city is decorated with white paper buntings, especially the Kochi Fort. The white colour is dominant in all decorations which symbolizes peace and tranquillity.[5]

Kochi Fort is the center of all the activities that take place at the time of the Cochin Carnival. It is promoted by the district tourism promotion council.[6]

History

In 1984, three youngsters from Cochin - Ananda Felix Scaria (Ananda Surya), George Augustine Thundiparambil (Roy) and Antony Anup Scaria (Anoop) decided to organise a beach festival with a programme at the Fort Kochi beach to celebrate the signing of a UN proclamation mandating 1985 as the International Youth Year.[7] They were supported by 150 youth groups of various clubs and organizations. Some of the other names associated with the first Carnival are Nirmal John Augustine, Radha Gomathi and Abul Kalam Azad (photographer), who later became an active member of the team and has many images from the first carnival, that are being archived by Ekalokam Trust for Photography.[8][9]

This program started during the second week of December 1984 with a cycle race followed by other local ethnic games like kabaddi, tug of war, kalari, kuttiyum kolum, Kalam Vara (floor drawing) etc. The event ended on 1 January 1985 with a procession with a massive rally including caparisoned elephants accompanied by Panchavadyam, called ‘Carnivale Cochin’. Gradually, it took the form of what is today called the Cochin Carnival.[10][11]

Highlights

Papanhi

Papanhi is a giant statue of an old man.[12] Papanhi is burned exactly at stroke of midnight signifies the end of a passing year and welcome New Year. This symbolises the burning of all the ills and beginning on a new note. This is followed by gala party with dance and music till morning. The origin of this custom remains ambiguous.[13]

Before this became a part of the Carnival, the local clubs had Papanhi festivities all over the area. It merged with the carnival and the legend too grew. The papanhi resembles Santa Claus. Over a period of time, the effigy of Santa started being burnt, however, was rectified afterwards.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Cochin celebration and carnival 2016". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Cochin Carnival Today". Deccan Chronicle. 13 December 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "It is carnival time in Kochi again". Deccan Chronicle. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "All you need to know about Kerala's vibrant cultural festival". travel India. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "cochin-carnival". Cochin.org. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "cochin-carnival". Web india123. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "International Youth Year". Bic. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Pradeep, K.; S, Priyadershini (2 January 2015). "Cochin Carnival at 30". The Hindu.
  9. ↑ "Celebrating Mattancherry". PhotoMail.
  10. ↑ Pradeep, K.; S, Priyadershini (2 January 2015). "Cochin Carnival at 30". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Carnivals-fairs". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "New Year 2016 Celebrations in Kerala". Irish Holidays. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "'Papaanji' burns out with a dying year". The hindu. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  14. ↑ S, Priyadershini (28 December 2014). "The old man and a fleeting year". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
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