Kerala is the southern most state of India. The name Keralam is believed to have been origined from the word "kera" and "alam". Kera means coconut and alam means land or location - Thus it is meant by "The Land Of Coconut Trees". It was a part of "Thamizhagam" (Present Tamil Nadu) which covered the then Chola, Chera and Pandya region. The music, dance and language of Kerala are same to that can be seen in rest of Thamizhagom. The arrival of Vasco da Gama, coming of foreign traders and invation by Portuguese defined a new cultural heritage in its people.
Kerala has a rich cultural heritage. Exquisite sculptures, music and dance forms can be seen in the historic development of Kerala's cultural traditions. Trissur PooramThe traditions of Kathakali and Mohiniattam are highly developed art forms that have developed from their folk origins into highly evolved classical dance forms. Kathakali is a 300-year-old dance form developed exclusively in Kerala combiningthe performing art forms of opera, ballet, masque, and pantomime. The dance is a beautiful blending of color, dance, music, drama, and expressions. In a sense, a lot of the fame that the state has gained is mainly due to the popularity of this dance form. Other dance forms of Kerala are Krishnanattom, Mohiniyattom, Thullal, Koodiyattom, Kolkkali, Thiruvathirakali, Kakkarishi Natakom, Oppanna, and Chavittunatakom. Panchavadyam, Nadanpattu, Omanathinkal Kidavo and many more music forms have evolved over the centuries in Kerala.
The musical culture of Kerala includes folk music (folk songs, ritual songs, Thiruvathira songs, Vanchipattu) and classical music comprising Carnatic music, Kathakali music and Sopana music. The traditional musical instruments of Keralainclude among others Panchavadyam, Chendamelam, and Thayambaka.
Kerala is home to a number of dance and art forms. Several dance forms which originated in Kerala are today popular worldwide especially the Kathakali dance form.
Kerala has a tradition in the field of painting as is evidenced by the murals in temples, palaces and churches. The traditional style mural art, using natural pigments and vegetable colours