'Ramayana month' begins in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, July 17: Keeping up an unique tradition, Hindu homes and temples in Kerala began to reverberate with the chant of 'Adhyatma Ramayanam' as the month of 'Karkitakam' of Malayalam calendar dawned today.

For centuries, it has been a practice for Keralites to read aloud 'Adhyatma Ramayanam' penned by medieval devotional poet Thunchath Ezhuthachan, revered as the patriarch of Malayalam literature.

Besides being a devotional work, 'Ahdyatma Ramayana' is considered as a literary classic in Malayalam as the work stands out for its lyrical beauty and musical quality.

At homes, the Ramayana is recited from the beginning till the end in the next 30 days before lighted brass lamps.

In temples across the state also, the epic is recited and elucidated by scholars for listeners thronging to listen to the story of Lord Ram and the spiritual messages it transmits.

According to the Malayalam publishing industries, apart from the printed text of the classic, its CD versions, rendered by musicians, also make roaring sales during the season.

PTI