The islands off mainland Kochi celebrate New Year’s in local colour and customs

Beyond the glitzy carnival in Fort Kochi, the islands off mainland Kochi celebrate New Year’s in their distinctive ways, with local colours, food and customs

The staging of ‘Ploripees in the Palace Garden’ by a group of 50 women will be the highlight of the New Year festivities on the island of Gothuruth. An act in the famous drama, Karalman Charitham (the story of Emperor Charlemagne), rendered in the Latin Christian folk art, Chavittunadakam, it will be a maiden performance by women.

One of the main islands off Kochi’s 30-kilometre coastline, Gothuruth hosts a two-day year-end festival that culminates in a carnival. Conducted by the Muziris Society, the festival will have day-long programmes including boating on the Periyar, art exhibitions, bike races and folk dances such as kolkali and duffmuttu.

The celebrations will end with a carnival procession from Holy Cross Church to Saint Sebastian Church, the two main churches on the island. “Men with painted faces will walk on stilts,” says Doniya Johnson, a resident, who is coordinating the women for the Ploripees... play. “It is going to be a memorable night for us,” she says. “We have teachers, Kudumbashree workers and politicians in the group. Though girls learn Chavittunadakam in school, they seldom take to the stage in adulthood. The oldest woman in the group is 68-year-old Gracy Josy and the youngest is a class 10 student.”

While mainland Kochi has witnessed rapid infrastructure development and allied cosmopolitanism, the islands off it have retained their authentic lifestyle and culture.  Their celebrations are unique and steeped in local tradition. However, house parties, a sing song nights, carolling and beach gatherings have become part of New Year revelry.

While the year end carnival in Fort Kochi is a well-known celebration that draws crowds from all over Ernakulam Kochi too have similar celebrations to mark the end of the year. In the past five to six years, the beaches from Puthuvype till Cherai have seen an increase in revellers, says Vypeen-based journalist Sojan Valooran. The Vypeen coast has about nine beaches, including Kuzhipilli Puthuvyppu, Valappu, Malippuram Njarakkal Pallipuram Munambam to name a few.

“All these wear a festive look towards the end of the year, with people, music performances and even pappanji burnings on New Year’s Day,” he adds. Unlike those in Fort Kochi, the festivities on many of these islands reflect their authentic inherent lifestyle and culture. Their celebrations are unique and are steeped in perpetuate local tradition. This year, look forward to house parties, sing song nights, carolling and beach gatherings.