Kartikshina85855 at 08:16, 16 September 2025

2025-09-16T08:16:33Z

New page

{{short description|Culture of the Indian city}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
[[Kochi (India)|Kochi]], is a city and port in the [[India]]n state of [[Kerala]].

The [[culture]] of the city can be termed as predominantly [[South India]]n. Residents of Kochi are known as Kochiites; they are an important part of the [[South Indian culture|South Indian weltanschauung]]. Being the largest city in Kerala, the culture of Kochi is significantly more cosmopolitan than the rest of the state.'''<ref name="Developing metro and quaint environs">
{{cite news
| author=Rakee Mohan
| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/real-estate/cities/bangalore/Developing-metro-and-quaint-environs/articleshow/1482577.cms
| title=Developing metro and quaint environs
| publisher=Economic Times
| date=2006-04-08
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}</ref>''' The city is cosmopolitan in many ways, due to its exposure to foreign tourists. Nightlife is scarce and the city shuts down after 10 pm; however, there are a few women-friendly bars and late night cafes present in the city, such as Mezzo in Avenue Regent (last call 10:45PM) and Tonico cafe (shuts down at 2:00AM).

==Historical influences==
{|align=right
|-
|[[File:Kochi 1960 street.jpg|200px|thumb|A street in Kochi circa 1960]]
|-
|[[File:Hindu temple Kochi.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The [[gopuram]] of a [[Hindu temple]] in Kochi]]
|-

|}
Kochi's culture was enriched by successive waves of migration over the course of several millennia. The city once had a large Jewish community that figured prominently in Kochi's business and economic strata.<ref name="Jerusalem centre for Public Affairs">{{cite web
|publisher=Jerusalem Centre for public affairs
|work=An Interview with Nathan Katz
|url=http://www.jcpa.org/cjc/cjc-katz-f05.htm
|title=The Jews, Israel, and India
|accessdate=2006-05-17
|archive-date=5 September 2006
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905125230/http://www.jcpa.org/cjc/cjc-katz-f05.htm
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> Known as the ''Malabar Yehuden''—and now increasingly as [[Cochin Jews]]—the community has now almost entirely migrated to [[Israel]] and the [[United States]]. Also, Kochi is the economic and financial capital of the state and is slowly turning into one of the commercial cities of India. [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Saint Thomas Christianity]] was the sole Christian tradition in Kochi for a long time.<ref name="Kerala:Asia's Cradle of Christianity">
{{cite web
|publisher=Indian Embassy
|work=Christian traditions in Kerala
|url=http://www.indianembassy.org/new/NewDelhiPressFile/kerala_christianity.html
|title=Kerala: Asia's Cradle of Christianity
|accessdate=2006-05-23
}}
</ref> However, the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] arrival in the 16th century, led to [[Latin Catholics of Malabar|Roman Catholicism]] being a dominant force.<ref name="Kerala:Asia's Cradle of Christianity"/>

==Contemporary culture==
Kochi has a diverse, multicultural, and secular community consisting of [[Hindu]]s, [[Christians]], [[Cochin Jews|Jews]], [[Muslim]]s, [[Jain]]s, [[Sikh]]s, [[Konkani language|Konkani]]s and [[Buddhist|Buddhists]], among other denominations.
Today, the population of the city is a mix of people from all parts of Kerala and most of India. The city's pan-Indian nature is highlighted by the substantial presence of various ethnic communities from different parts of the country.<ref name="Kochi's 'mini-India' NDTV">
{{cite news
| author=T S Sudhir
| url=http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Assemblypolls2006&slug='Mini-India'+votes+for+better+Kerala&id=87395&callid=1&category=National
| title=Kochi's 'mini-India'
| publisher=NDTV
| date=2006-04-29
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}
</ref> The presence of the headquarters of the [[Indian Navy|Southern Naval Command]] adds to the cosmopolitan nature of the city.

The people are also increasingly fashion-conscious, often deviating from the [[South Indian culture#Traditional clothing|traditional Kerala wear]] to Western [[casual clothing]].<ref name="Retail booooom — NIE">
{{cite news
|url=http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20060508214642&Page=X&Title=Kochi&Topic=0&
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005023/http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20060508214642&Page=X&Title=Kochi&Topic=0&
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2007-09-27
|title=Retail booooom
|publisher=New Indian Express
|date=2006-05-09
|accessdate=2006-05-23
}}
</ref> Kochi has also played host to a number of high-profile fashion shows, including ones sponsored by [[FashionTV#India|FashionTV]].<ref name="FTV">{{cite news
| author=
| url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/04/01/stories/2006040102640100.htm
| title=FTV by the Kochi backwaters
| publisher=The Hindu
| date=2006-04-01
| accessdate=2006-05-23
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313220020/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/04/01/stories/2006040102640100.htm
| archive-date=13 March 2008
| url-status=usurped
}}</ref>

Kochi is also the venue of the annual [[Cochin Flower Show]]

==Cuisine==
Kochiites generally partake of [[Kerala cuisine|Keralite cuisine]], which is generally characterised by an abundance of [[coconut]] and spices. Other [[South India]]n cuisines and [[Chinese cuisine]] are popular. [[Fast food]] culture is very prominent; a large number of fast food outlets include those operated by multinational conglomerates like [[Pizza Hut]], [[Marrybrown]], [[KFC]], [[McDonald's]], [[Chic King]], and [[Domino's Pizza|Dominos]].<ref name=" Fast food overtakes the spice route">{{cite news
| url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/11/28/stories/2005112801410100.htm
| title=Fast food overtakes the spice route
| publisher=The Hindu
| date=2005-11-28
| accessdate=2006-05-23
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014191133/http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/11/28/stories/2005112801410100.htm
| archive-date=14 October 2007
| url-status=usurped
}}</ref> [[North India]]n and [[European cuisine|Continental]] cuisines are becoming increasingly popular.

==Festivals==
[[File:Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly Funeral.jpg|200px|thumb|Funeral of Venerable [[Varghese Payyappilly]] in Thevara on 6 October 1929]]
Keeping up with its multi-ethnic diaspora, Kochi celebrates traditional Kerala festivals like [[Onam]] and [[Vishu]] along with [[North India]]n festivals like [[Holi]] and [[Diwali]] with great fervour. Christian and Islamic festivals like [[Christmas]], [[Easter]], [[Eid ul-Fitr]], [[Milad-e-sherif]], etc. are also celebrated. A merry making feast called the [[Cochin Carnival]] is celebrated at [[Fort Kochi]] every year during the last ten days of December. Various unique games, [[dirt bike]] races, [[beach volleyball]] and [[fireworks display]] are held as part of the festivities.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.indiatravelblog.com/resources/3475-Cochin-Carnival-New-Year-Celebrations-at-Fort-Kochi.aspx | title = Cochin Carnival | accessdate = 2015-12-31 }}</ref> The carnival is celebrated as a continuity of the Portuguese [[New Year]] revelry held here during the colonial days.

Kochi is also the permanent venue of the [[India International Boat show]], the [[India International Aqua show]] and the [[Kochi International Book Festival]].

==Cinema, arts and literature==
Kochi was home to some of the most influential figures in [[Malayalam literature]], including [[Changampuzha Krishna Pillai]], [[Kesari Balakrishna Pillai]], [[G. Sankara Kurup]], and [[Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon]]. Changampuzha is popular for his bestseller, ''Ramanan'', written in the romantic tradition.

Kochi is one of the nerve centres of [[Cinema of Kerala|Mollywood]] in the state. The scenic beauty, especially the Anglican appearance of places like [[Fort Kochi]], makes it an important location for movie screening.
There are over 20 cinema halls which screen movies in Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi. The [[Cochin International Film Festival]] (CIFF) is held in the city every year.

The [[Durbar Hall Ground]] in the city plays host to numerous cultural events that happen in the city. The [[Changampuzha Park]] in the suburbs of the city is also a popular venue for various cultural activities and performances.

Recently [[Oberon Mall]] was inaugurated in Kochi at Edappally NH bypass road, which happens to be the second mall after the Bay Pride Mall at Marine Drive. [[Lulu International Shopping Mall, Kochi]] one of the biggest malls in India, is also in Kochi.

== Sports and stadiums ==
[[Cricket]] and [[soccer|football]] are the most popular sports in the city. The [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi|Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium]] in Kochi is one of the largest multi-use stadiums in [[India]].<ref name="Stadiums in India">{{cite web
|publisher=worldstadiums.com
|work=List of stadiums in India in order of seating capacity
|url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/asia/countries/india.shtml
|title=Stadiums in India
|accessdate=2006-05-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924095432/http://www.worldstadiums.com/asia/countries/india.shtml
|archive-date=24 September 2011
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The stadium is the [[home ground]] of the [[F C Cochin]] football club. It has a [[seating capacity]] of 60,000 and is equipped with [[floodlights (sport)|floodlight]]s for night play.
The [[Regional Sports Centre, Kochi|Regional Sports Centre]] is an important centre of sporting activity in the city. The centre has an indoor stadium and is equipped with facilities for sports like [[tennis]], [[badminton]], [[basketball]], cricket, [[roller skating]] and [[table tennis]].

Other important stadiums include the B.R.Ambedkar Stadium, the Palace Oval Ground and the [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam|Maharajas College Grounds]], where [[field hockey|hockey]] and tennis are played.

==Other prominent people==
*[[K. J. Yesudas]] - singer.
*[[Abraham Barak Salem]], Jewish Gandhi
*[[Sahodaran Ayyappan]], social reformer
*[[Pandit Karuppan]], social reformer
*[[Sreeshanth]], international cricketer
*[[Asin (actress)|Asin]], model and actor
*[[Revathi]], actor.
*[[Cochin Haneefa]], actor
*[[Anand Jon]], fashion designer.
*[[Augustine Joseph]], Singer
*[[Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly]], Syro-Malabar saint
*[[Panampilly Govinda Menon]], former Kerala Chief Minister

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Culture of Kochi, Kerala}}
* [http://www.indiaboatshow.com/ India International Boat Show]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060812214755/http://aquashowkerala.com/ India International Aqua Show]

{{Kochi (India) topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culture Of Kochi}}
[[Category:Culture of Kochi| ]]

Culture of Kochi - Revision history

Kartikshina85855 at 08:16, 16 September 2025