There are about 5120 households with an average family size of 4.49 in Kumarakom according to the latest Census in 2001. Kerala has had its own distinctive style of domestic architecture and the pattern of dwellings. Almost every house is a separate dwelling located in a self-contained compound and it is provided with all domestic amenities within its boundaries. The distributed habitation pattern of Kerala is quite different from the conglomerate habitats of the rest of India. The traditional upper class houses called nalukettu were built in accordance with the principles of Thachu Sastra (Science of Architecture) for accommodating the erstwhile families under Marumakkathayam system. Some of them could accommodate as many as 150 or 200 inmates.
Traditional Architechture
They consisted of a rectangular structure, sometimes tiled but generally with a thatched roof, comprising a central courtyard (Nadumuttom) the structure being divided into four main rooms and four corner rooms, and the courtyard being connected to the outside by four corridors arranged in Swasthika form. Wood and laterite were important building materials used, wood for making the columns, eves, the gables, the overhanging roof and balconies and laterite for basement and foundation of the building. Verandas and cattle shed formed part of every house. Usually the entrance to the house was through a gate house (Padippura).The traditional Nalukettu is now almost a thing of the past, though specimens of it may still be seen in the rural areas. In Kumarakom too there were some Nalukettu type big houses but all have been dismantled. But some tourist resorts have brought such dismantled Nalukettus and rebuilt and kept. In Kumarakom Lake Resort and Coconut Lagoon one can see the re-creation of a Kerala village. Here traditional timber mansions known as Nalukettu, Illams and Tharavads, have been saved from destruction, dismantled and transported to the backwater retreat and meticulously reassembled plank by plank to give the guest a feel of Kerala’s stately homes.
Nadumuttam
Under the impact of modern civilization the style of domestic architecture has changed. The modern houses are intended to accommodate single families and there have, therefore, been significant changes in the design, lay out and architecture of residential buildings. The new terraced or tiled bungalows have replaced the old Nalukettus. Almost all modern upper class houses are constructed in the western style and they consist of drawing room, dining hall, bedrooms, with attached bathrooms, a kitchen and a storeroom. The number of storeys in the house depends on the financial capacity of the parties concerned. The roof is made of reinforced concrete and is decorated on the sides by concrete railings of beautiful designs. The walls are plastered with lime, or with cement and then whitewashed. The floor is done in cement, or in mosaic/ ceramic tiles, if the party can afford to have it. The windows are provided with iron bars of different varieties. Decorative grills are also used in some houses, at least on the front side in order to ensure an attractive appearance. The bars, which were till recently fixed vertically on the windows are now being placed horizontally. Ventilators have become indispensable items. Either they are attached to the top of the windows or provided separately. A flower garden in front of the house has become the fashion of the day. The houses are invariably provided with electric lights and pipes, wherever possible. Those, which are not roofed with concrete, have wooden ceilings.
It may, however be noted that the houses of the very poor are still built of bricks and the roofs are thatched with plaited coconut leaves. Instead of brick walls wooden planks or bamboo mats are also sometimes used. Hundreds of small houses are recently built with the financial assistance from government, loans from banks, co-operative societies and government owned Housing Board.
The landless `hutment dwellers, could secure ten cents of land as a result of the Land Reforms laws implemented in 1970s. The bureaucratic delay in implementing this law was remedied by forceful agitation of the agriculture workers and CPI (M). More than a house and squatters’ households could grab permanent right to 10 cents of land each, which helped them to construct new hygeinic homes.
Furniture and Decorations
The houses of the well todo have fairly well furnished rooms. The use of chairs, tables, settees, teapoys, sofa etc, is quite common. The doors and windows of houses are provided with curtains. T.V. sets and flowerpots wherein either fresh flowers or artificial flowers made of paper or plastic are kept as decorations in almost every drawing room. Clock, photos and calendars adorn the walls. Coir mats and carpet are spread on the floor. Wooden cots are found in some houses, but people also sleep on grass mats spread on floors.
Traditional House
The lighting of the lamps is a delightful ceremony with children squatting around the lamps chanting devotional songs. Some of the bronze lamps are ornamental and oil is generally used as an illuminant. Kerosene lamps are lit only after the ceremonial lighting of the bronze lamps is done. But now electric lights have almost replaced the kerosene lamps. In Kumarakom more than 85% houses are electrified. It must, however, be stated that a few earthenware pots and mats form the only household possession of the poor classes.
Dress
A distinguishing feat- ure of the people of Kerala is the simplicity and elegance of their dress. White cloths are preferred to coloured clothes by the vast majority of people. A piece of cloth (mundu), is worn round the loins by men of almost all communities. A small upper garment is also worn while at home. While what is described above is the traditional form of dressing among men, irrespective of caste, there are differences in the forms of dressing prevalent among women. The women wear an inner garment round the loins and an outer garment covers this, which are usually two and a half yards in length and one and a half yards in breadth. Sometimes instead of two clothes one clothe sufficiently long for the purpose is worn. In the past it was customary for these women to leave the upper part of the body exposed, but this custom has now disappeared. Each caste and community has its traditional form of dress. The conventional dress used by Christian women is the white mundu or cloth, about seven yards long and one and a quarter yards broad, worn in a distinctive style with a fan-like portion on the backside. They cover the upper part of the body with a long sleeved blouse. The Muslim women have a liking for gaudy dress. They wear blouses closed at the neck with long sleeves and cover their heads with scarves.
Now as a common habit the people of Kerala wear chappels. Walking barefooted is considered below one’s dignity among the majority of people. However the educated and well to do sections in the society use foot wear when they go outside the houses.
There have been significant changes in the sartorial habits of the people in recent years. The young women of today, irrespective of caste or community, have almost given up the conventional costumes in favor of white or colored saris and blouses, brassieres, cholis etc. New forms of dresses such as churidar, pants, shirts and colourful T-shirts are common among young women everywhere. Almost all women take special care in the growth and preservation of the hair. They use plenty of oil to improve its growth and to keep it smooth and shiny. There are several ways of doing the hair among them. The traditional way has been to part it in the middle and tie it either tight to the ears or twist it up in front in a sort of cone or sometimes to tie it into a knot behind. The Young woman’s plait of hair used to reach the knee or even lower, adding greatly to her beauty. With the increasing craze for fashions in dress, fashionable forms of hairdressing have also come into vogue among young women. Blackening of the eyes and eyebrows is widely prevalent. Young and old ladies use nail polish and face powder and rarely lipstick.
Ornaments
Ornaments made of gold have been popular with all classes of women. The oldest ornament of the Nair women was a necklace called nagapatam, or serpent’s head, so called from the shape of the pendant. Other ornaments used around the neck by the Nair women were the Yanthram, poothali, avilmala and pulinakham. They also wore a nose ornament called mukkuthi from which was suspended a gold wire called Grattu. Round the loins were worn gold and silver belts. While grown up women did not wear anklets, the young ones used Kappu and Kolusu. The ear ornament of the Nair women was the Toda, which was a double convex disc, the front surface of which is decked with precious stones such as rubies, for the wearing of which the ear lobes were sufficiently dilated. The dilating process began at a very early age and the ear lobes became so far distended as to make it possible to wear todas of more than an inch in diameter. Now toda has became out of fashion. Only very old ladies wear this. Rings of all kinds were used for fingers. The Namboothiri women used only as few ornaments as possible. They wore rings on their fingers. A peculiar kind of necklace known as Cheruthali was worn loose over the breast. The Tamil Brahmins were not sparing in the use of ornaments. They had ornaments for the head, nose, ears, neck, arms, fingers, waist, and feet, and in fact for every part of the body. The Syrian Christian women bore their ears in several parts and wore a kind of heavy-gilt brass rings called Mekka motiram at the top of each ear. They when quite young in order to accommodate a `U’ shaped ornament at the time of wedding dilated the ear lobes. They were also accustomed to use necklaces and rings of various sorts. The Muslim women used to wear a variety of ornaments all over their body. They wore several necklaces in addition to armlets, bracelets, bangles and anklets of different description. It was customary to have ten to fourteen holes bored in each ear in order to facilitate the wearing of a string of ornaments.
The craze for ornaments has diminished among all classes of women. They now limit their jewellery to the absolute minimum. A simple gold chain is preferred for the neck. The modern ear ornaments consist of simple ear rings, studs etc. Bracelets and bangles made of gold and glass are worn on the wrists.
Food
Rice, boiled and served hot, is the staple food of people of all castes and creeds. The rice consumed is usually of the coarse type. The daily dietary of the people consists of the morning breakfast, mid-day meal or lunch, the afternoon Tiffin and supper at night. Kanji (rice boiled in water and served in liquid form), which was the traditional Malayali breakfast, has now almost become a thing of the past. The modern breakfast consists of dishes like dosa, idly, poori, etc., and beverages like coffee and tea. The more well to do sections take bread, with jam or butter, eggs and such costly beverages as oats, horlicks, bournvita etc. The people prefer dishes made of rice, but those prepared from wheat have become common out of sheer necessity. The mid-day meal or lunch is an elaborate affair and it consists of boiled rice and curries with pickles and buttermilk. The supper after sunset is either kanjee or a full meal with some of the items as are used for the mid-day lunch. Coconut oil and condiments are used in all culinary preparations. Coconut is an indispensable ingredient in almost all curries. Among Christians pork and beef are favourite items of food. There is no substantial difference in the dietary habits prevalent among various castes and communities except that some are vegetarians or others non-vegetarians. The Namboothiris and the Ambalavasis have been strict vegetarians and they take no animal food. The Nairs, Ezhavas etc., are not regular vegetarians or non-vegetarians and they take both foods according to convenience or habit. The Christians and Muslims have been definitely non-vegetarian. Both of them eat fish and meat.
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