FAQ

What are the Spiritual Rituals of Kerala?

Kerala is home to multi-religious communities and being so the state also has a plethora of spiritual rituals.

In Hindu rituals there is ‘pooja’ which involves offering prayers and worship to deities. It can be performed at home, temples or other sacred places. Then there is ‘aarti’, a ritual of waving a lighted lamp or incense stick in front of a deity, often accompanied by chanting or singing. Among other Hindu spiritual rituals are ‘havan’ a fire ceremony performed to appease deities or for purification purposes.

There is also a vegetarian feast called sadya which is served on banana leaves, often consumed during festivals or special occasions. Namajapam or the chanting of the divine name is often done as a form of meditation or prayer. Many Hindus undertake pilgrimages to sacred sites like Sabarimala, Guruvayur, Padmanabhaswamy Temple, etc.

The Christian community in Kerala have Holy Mass, the central act of worship in Christianity, involving prayers, readings from the Bible and the Eucharist. Then they have Baptism, a sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith. And also Communion, which is sacrament of the Eucharist, where Christians partake of bread and wine symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

And some of the spiritual rituals practised by the members of the Muslim community are Salat, which is the set of five daily prayers performed by Muslims, facing the Kaaba in Mecca. Then they have Sawm, fasting during the month of Ramadan; Zakat, which is giving a percentage of one's wealth as charity and Hajj; the pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim is required to undertake at least once in their lifetime.