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Kathakali :

In the South-west region of India, there is one of the most beautiful and exotic lands - Kerala, the home of Kathakali, the classical dance drama of India. There is a very ancient story regarding the creation of Kerala. The sage Parashurama who had killed his mother and who revived her later undertook a very austere penance to overcome his sin of matricide. He felt completely purified after this penance and in joy threw away his parashu or axe into the adjoining sea. The Gods above were happy to see this purification of Parashurama and ordered the sea to retreat to the place where his parashu had fallen and the reclaimed 

land is known as Kerala. Parashurama donated this land to some Brahmins and they are now known as Namboodiri Brahmins. We do not know how these Brahmins came to Kerala but it is believed that during the invasion of the Muslims in North India some Aryan Brahmins came down South and settled in Kerala. Along with them came their Sanskrit language and Aryan culture and this gradually became Malayalam culture. Kerala is a land of natural beauty. The undulating waters of the Arabian sea wash the shores of Kerala thus making it a nature's delight. The cocoanut palms which are abundant in this land sway with the smooth winds creating a beautiful musical whisper. The canals, the tanks and the backwaters of Kerala entering the various villages create an atmosphere of tranquility.