" mOn mOnde " -- My travel repOrts...

Monday, June 12, 2006

BeypOre- De "UrU yard"

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This historic port is about 10 kms from Kozhikode, at the port of Chaliyar River. Beypore was formerly known as VAYIPURA and VADAPARANPANADU. Tippu Sulthan named the town as “SULTHAN PATTANAM”. Beypore was once a globally renowned port for spice trade. Even though Beypore has lost much of its glory its still a lively fishing harbor.


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Beypore for centuries (almost 1500 years) known as ship builders center is still famous for its country crafts called “URU” built by traditional ship builders known as “KHALASIS”. It is said that during centaury A.D., the CHERAMAN PERUMAL the then ruler of Kodungallur, Kerala had constructed ship from Beypore for his quest to Arabia.


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Beypore is just 20 minutes drive from Kozhikode city. There is regular service to Lakshwadeep Islands from Beypore. One-hour boat ride through the Chaliyar River is conducted daily after 2.30pm by the district tourism promotion council.


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Friday, June 02, 2006

"PANDI-VADYAKKAR"

Oh.. its wonderful... yelled my little sister. I came out anxiously. There they are, two guys producing some very interesting music. It was "PANDI - VADYAKKAR" (Those people from South India who travel from place to place playing their musical instruments )


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These two guys dressed in traditional dress were from Palakkad District of KERALA (Southern most state in peninsular India) As you can see in the photo, two of them are playing two totally different musical instruments - "NAGASWARAM" and "THAKIL" .

NAGASWARAM" is also known as "NADASWARAM" (see the pic below). It is a long tube like air musical instrument popular in South India, usually use for traditinal weddings and "KACHERIES" (Music shows of South India, traditional ones). Really do sound great (just listen to the clipping that i have attached)



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Now coming to the other instrument, as seen in pic below it is played using sticks. "THAKIL" looks like a drum in structure which is usually hanged from neck and played by beating on the drum surface using two sticks. Generally this instrument is used to give background score for "NAGASWARAM"

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Now lemme tell something about these people- the "PANDI-VADYAKKAR". These people goes from place to place, playing their music and earning for their livelyhood from the money they get as "REWARD". I bet whome so ever who get the rare chance to listen this will definitly pay them well just because of the warmth and richness of their pure and soft music. Its very natural kind of notes they play- truly wonderful......

Its really hard to express it in these little words. Experince it to feel the difference. Do EXCUSE for poor quality of the photos.

Follow dis link to hear Pandi vadhyam..