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India-Kochi, city of traders and religions

73 images Created 15 Apr 2009

The ancient city of Cochin, today's Kochi, has been drawing traders, explorers, and travelers to its shores for over 600 years. Nowhere else in India could you find such an intriguing and unlikely blend of giant Chinese fishing nets, a 450-year-old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese and Dutch-era houses, and the British Raj's crumbling remains. The result is an f medieval Portugal and Holland and an English village on the tropical Malabar Coast of Kerala. It is the heritage of a spirit of tolerance, mainly in the old city of Kochi, formerly Cochin, a multicultural centre of the Indian spice trade for many centuries. Merchants from Asia and Europe established coastal settlements here, and the first mosque, synagogue, and church in India were built in Kerala. Hinduism has undoubtedly shaped Kerala, and the mythological legends regarding the origin of Kerala are essentially Hindu, but still today, 56% of Kerala residents are Hindus, 24% are Muslims, and 19% are Christians. The Jews arrived in Kerala in 573 BC. with spice traders, possibly as early as the 7th century BC. The tradition of the Cochin Jews maintains that 10,000 Jews migrated to Kerala after the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem (72 AD). According to local Syriac Nasrani Christian tradition and Eastern Christian books, Thomas the Apostle also visited Kerala in 52 AD. to proselytize amongst Kerala's Jewish settlements. The Portuguese Vasco Da Gama arrived in 1498, and in 1505 Francisco de Almeida was appointed Viceroy of Portuguese India, with headquarters at Kochi. The Portuguese destroyed the famous Cochin Synagogue in 1661, but the Dutch, and later the British, were tolerant, allowing the Jews to pursue their everyday life in Cochin. After Israel's creation in 1948, most Jews emigrated to Israel. Kerala and Kochi are also the
homeland of the Kathakali, a fusion of esotericism, Kalarippayat martial arts, and Kathak and Bharatnatyam dances. The costumes are refined versions of ritual Arian and Dravidian art, as epic poems like Mahabharata and Ramayana inspire the plots. Characters are divine and ultramundane, so their essence's representation needs make up excessively far from daily life's reality. A Kathakali actor uses a lot of time to achieve a complete transformation of the human face, essential to transport the spectators in a far and fantastic world where the divine is part of daily life, and everything expresses emotions and feelings, from music to the colours.

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  • Kochi, the old Fort Cochin, is scattered between 20 small islands. and boats are a easy way to move between.
    em3500251.jpg
  • Kochi, the old Fort Cochin, is scattered between 20 small islands. and boats are a easy way to move between.
    em3500252.jpg
  • Mother Teresa and communist poster, symbolises Kerala, with a strong Christian minorità and traditional Communist governement.
    em3500254.jpg
  • Chinese Fishing Nets, introduced by Chinese traders in Kublai Khan time, needs 5-6 fishermen to raise.
    em3500256.jpg
  • Chinese Fishing Nets, introduced by Chinese traders in Kublai Khan time, needs 5-6 fishermen to raise.
    em3500259.jpg
  • Chinese Fishing Nets, introduced by Chinese traders in Kublai Khan time, needs 5-6 fishermen to raise.
    em3500262.jpg
  • Chinese Fishing Nets, introduced by Chinese traders in Kublai Khan time, needs 5-6 fishermen to raise.
    em3500265.jpg
  • Fishermen
    em3500268.jpg
  • Fishermen
    em3500269.jpg
  • Fishermen in Vypeen Island.
    em3500270.jpg
  • Fishermen in Vypeen Island.
    em3500273.jpg
  • Fishermen in Vypeen Island.
    em3500274.jpg
  • Fishermen in Vypeen Island.
    em3500275.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for ginger and others spices trade.
    em3500284.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for ginger and others spices trade.
    em3500287.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500289.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500290.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500292.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500296.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500297.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500298.jpg
  • Matancherry’s Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500299.jpg
  • Matancherry's Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500301.jpg
  • Colonial Houses
    em3500302.jpg
  • Colonial Houses
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  • Colonial Houses
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  • Kochi, the old Fort Cochin, is scattered between 20 small islands. and boats are a easy way to move between.
    em3500311.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Our Lady of Fatima holiday. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500314.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500316.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500318.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500320.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500321.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500322.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500323.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500324.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500326.jpg
  • Santa Cruz Catholic church, one of the oldest of Fort Cochin. Kerala, and Cochin, have a strong Christian minority.
    em3500329.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500331.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast. Here a Syro Caldean with a moded of the ship that, traditionally utilised St Thomas. The saint founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500333.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500334.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500334.jpg
  • St Francis church, the oldest of Fort Kochin, the only  Portuguese church not destroyed by Dutchmen. Here for 14 years was Buried Vasco da Gama.
    em3500340.jpg
  • St Francis church, the oldest of Fort Kochin, the only  Portuguese church not destroyed by Dutchmen. Here for 14 years was Buried Vasco da Gama.
    em3500341.jpg
  • Jew street , Matancherry, once a place with a old and strong Jewish community.
    em3500342.jpg
  • Matancherry, the old Jewish cemetery.
    em3500345.jpg
  • Pardesi Synagogue, builded in 1568, destroyed by Portuguese in 1662, rebuilded with Dutch occupation in 1664.
    em3500346.jpg
  • Pardesi Synagogue, builded in 1568, destroyed by Portuguese in 1662, rebuilded with Dutch occupation in 1664.
    em3500347.jpg
  • Sama Ath in Matancherry, the oldest mosque of Fort Kochin.
    em3500350.jpg
  • Sama Ath in Matancherry, the oldest mosque of Fort Kochin.
    em3500352.jpg
  • Kochi, the old Fort Cochin, is scattered between 20 small islands. and boats are a easy way to move between.
    em3500353.jpg
  • Lord Khrishna birthday.
    em3500358.jpg
  • Lord Khrishna birthday. Two boys plays Lord Khrisna and his wife Rumini.
    em3500362.jpg
  • Lord Khrishna birthday.
    em3500363.jpg
  • Fort Cochin, baker's shop.
    em3500364.jpg
  • Kochi, the old Fort Cochin, is scattered between 20 small islands. and boats are a easy way to move between.
    em3500365.jpg
  • Fort Kochin, baker's shop.
    em3500368.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500385.jpg
  • Portuguese catholic churches.
    em3500388.jpg
  • Matancherry, the old Jewish cemetery.
    em3500389.jpg
  • Matancherry, the old Jewish cemetery.
    em3500393.jpg
  • Fishermen in Vypeen Island.
    em3500395.jpg
  • Portuguese catholic churches.
    em3500396.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500397.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500398.jpg
  • Portuguese catholic churches.
    em3500400.jpg
  • Matancherry’s Jew street, traditional storehouses utilised from centuries for pepper and others spices trade.
    em3500801.jpg
  • em3500804.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas. The people of Kokkamangalam venerate St. Thomas as their patron.
    em3500806.jpg
  • em3500807.jpg
  • em3500808.jpg
  • According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52, and founded 7 churches before he was martyred in Mylapore. St Thomas converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site of the church founded by St Thomas.
    em3500815.jpg
  • Kochi, the old Fort Cochin, is scattered between 20 small islands. and boats are a easy way to move between.
    em3500821.jpg
  • Fishermen in Vypeen Island.
    em3500824.jpg
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