Kochi, Aug 17 (IANS) A new month, a fresh beginning and a festive season on the horizon, Kerala woke up on Monday to Chingam 1, traditionally regarded as an auspicious day and the beginning of a new year in the Malayalam calendar.
Coming after Karkidakam, traditionally considered a lean and sombre month, Chingam brings with it a distinctly different mood.
For generations, the first day of Chingam has been associated with hope, prosperity and new beginnings, particularly among Kerala’s Hindu community.
It is a day when families traditionally make their way to temples seeking blessings for the year ahead.
For many, the morning begins with prayers and temple visits, while others choose the occasion to start a new venture or open a business, believing that Chingam 1 is an auspicious time to embark on a fresh journey.
The Sabarimala temple, too, opens its doors for the monthly pujas around this time, drawing devotees to the hill shrine.
Chingam also brings a welcome change in the sartorial landscape of Kerala.
Women often step out in the elegant traditional Kerala saree, while men traditionally prefer the simple white dhoti, adding a distinctly Kerala flavour to the celebrations.
Though not obligatory, the traditional attire has become an integral part of the visual identity of the day.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, known for his personal religious observances, was among those who marked the occasion with a temple visit in Kochi, giving the first day of Chingam a political as well as cultural touch.
But Chingam 1 is also significant because it heralds Kerala’s biggest festival Onam.
The Malayalam month of Chingam is virtually synonymous with the Onam season, when Kerala comes alive with pookkalams (rangoli), traditional feasts, cultural programmes and family gatherings.
This year’s principal Onam celebrations will run from August 25 to August 28, adding to the anticipation surrounding the month.
From the ringing of temple bells to the first flowers of the Onam season, Chingam signals a shift in Kerala’s mood from the quietness of Karkidakam to the colour and celebration that lie ahead.
For a state that has long attached special meaning to auspicious beginnings, Chingam 1 is not merely the turn of a calendar page. It is a promise of a fresh start.
–IANS
sg/rad
