MARAMON CONVENTION
Maramon and Kozhencherry, on the banks of the rive Pampa 16 kilometres east of Tiruvalla, have for centuries been recognised as centres of Christian culture and influence. Maramon is also famous as the birth place of Palakkunnathu Abraham Maplah, leader of the reformation in the Syrian Church of Malabar in the 19th century. This village which developed into a town has the added distinction of being the venue of a religious gathering known as Maramon Convention, said to be the largest Christian gathering in Asia.

It is during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the river Pampa below the Kozhemcherry bridge that the Maramon Convention is held every year. About a week before the convention, the sanded becomes a scene of great activity. Christians from the parishes around Maramon are seen carrying Cadjan leaves and bamboo poles and other materials for erecting the convention pandal. The pandal has a seating capacity of about fifty thousand. All round the pandal there are temporary sheds and tents for various purposes furthering the objects of the Convention. Stalls for the sale of religious literature, church offices and restaurants are allowed to operate in the vicinity of the pandal under the strict control of the authorities. Long valloms (boats) with canopies, and stored with provisions for the use of families from distant places lie anchored in the river.

The Maramon Convention is pre-eminently an assembly of Christians who once a year come here for listening to the Word of God as read and expounded by leaders of Christian thought from all over India as well as abroad. Preaching and Bible study occupy the major part of the conference programme. Along with the religious reading and discourse, singing of hymns and praying for the sick and the needy are also held. It is grand sight to behold the sea of humanity offer prayers for the sick and the suffering for half and hour every day for a week. Prayer and worship at the convention accompanied by singing is a wonderful experience for every participant- an experience which purges and cleanses his soul and draws him closer to God and to his fellowmen.

The Maramon Convention displays co-operation and union between different sections of Church in Kerala. It fosters ecumenical outlook. It is also a source of spiritual inspiration and enlightenment for thousands.

MILADI SHARIF

Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam, was born on the 20th of April, 571 AD. Muslims all over the world celebrate the birth of the Prophet in various ways. In Kerala the practice of large scale celebration of Prophet's birthday is of recent origin. Reading what is commonly known as the Maulood' which is a short biography of the Prophet written both in verse and prose in the Arabic language has been the common ritual of the day. Of late in Kerala, there has developed another practice connected with the Miladi Sharif. Night lectures are organised during the first twelve days of the month when Muslim Ulemas through their discourses enlighten the people on the various aspects of the life of the Prophet. Thus throught the celebrations connected with the Miladi Sharif, the Muslim masses get and opportunity to be enlightened on the life and teachings of the Prophet.

The celebration of the Miladi sharif in certain parts of the state, for instance Ponnani, is marked by busy activity connected with large scale feeding of the poor. Here in the Muslim Centre, one finds that the town is active during the whole night busily engaged in the charitable work of supplying food to the poor.

Recently Miladi Sharif celebration has assumed greater importance in Kerala. On this occasion colourful processions are taken out through the towns reciting Thakbir. These processions finally converge on some central place where public meetings are held. These public gatherings are addressed by well-known speakers who deal with the various aspects of the Prophet's life. Such meetings are often attended largely by non-Muslims also.

MUHARRAM

Muharram, the forbidden month, is the opening month of the Hejira year. The 10th day of the month is celebrated by the Sunnies as well as the Shias all over the world. It was on this day that God is believed to have created Adam and Eve and that the Pharoah of Egypt and his countrymen were drowned in the Red Sea by the will of the Almighty. Again it was on this day that the most lamentable carnage of Kerbala took place in 680 A.D. When Imman Hussain, the grandson of Prophet and his men met with their end in an agonizing manner. On this day the Jews observe fast. The Prophet enjoined on the Muslims to observe fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram. It was to commemorate the victory of the Jews over Pharoah that fasting was enjoined upon Muslims on these days. For the Shia Muslims Muharram is an important occasion for religious ceremony. The Sunni Muslims do not celebrate Muharram, but the devout Muslims among them observe fast.

'Pulikali' or 'Tiger-dance' is part of this celebration in Kerala. Some Muslims assume the guise of tiger by painting their whole body to bring out the appearance of tiger, wear masks and parade through streets, playing, dancing and mimicking a tiger. This is done to idealize the valour of Hussain.

MULLACKAL UTSAVAM

Situated at the centre of Alappuzha town is the beautiful Devi temple, familiarly known as the Mullackal Devi temple. Although this temple is located at the busy centre of the town, the atmosphere around the temple is serene and calm.

A minor festival, the Kodiyettu Utsavam is celebrated in the temple during the Navarathri day, though the Chirappu is by far the most important festival which is as famous as the Sivarathri festival of Aluva, and the Ashtami celebrations of Vaikom. Past the month of Vrischikam, when Dhanu approaches, (December) the entire Alappuzha town assumes a festive look, throbs with activity and exults in jubilation. During these days, streets and buildings are decorated with flags and festoons. Big arches are put up across roads and the entire locality is illuminated with colour bulbs. The main thoroughfares are the bespread with snowy bright sand and the roads would appear as though they were covered with white carpet. Various fancy goods, especially requirements of the fair sex, vessels of various sizes and types etc. are lavishly displayed for sale in the fair during the Chirappu days. Certainly, in no other Devi temple in Kerala, the Chrirappu Utsavam is celebrated on as large a scale as in the Mullackal Devi temple.