Chandam Charthal, an age old religious ritual of the Knanaya Community (Catholics & Jacobites) of Kerala, still continues to be part of their wedding celebrations. Normally organised on the wedding eve at the groom’s house during the bachelor party, close relatives and friends of the groom gather at the rendezvous to morally support and prepare him for the wedding day.

The bride’s house also witnesses a similar event on the eve of the marriage which is called “Mylaanji ideel”. It is believed that the Henna applied would remove the sin that the bride has inherited from Eve, the first woman who succumbed to the serpent’s temptation and ate the forbidden fruit. The “Nulli Kodukkal” ritual is the same in the bride’s house as well. Throughout these functions several traditional songs describing the story of the Knanaya people and their arrival to Kerala are sung.

Knanaya

The Knanaya people came to India from Iran. The present Knanayites are the descendents of the 400 people who migrated to the Mahadevar Pattanam (Kodungallore) in 345 AD. Legend says that the King of Kodungallore, Cheraman Perumal, respected them by giving 72 positions and ruling authority over 17 castes.

Pachor

Pachor is a special sweet rice porridge ceremoniously given on special occasions. It is a mixture of broken rice and coconut milk steamed and garnished with cumin seeds.

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