Kanyakumari district
In earlier days the Kanyakumari district was a part of the Travancore state. In 1835, when the state was divided in to Northern and Southern divisions, this area was in the Southern division. The district was under the charge of Dewan Peishkar, Kottayam. In July 1949, when the United States of Travancore and Cochin was inaugurated, the present Kanyakumari area continued to be a part of Trivandrum district of Kerala State.
The areas namely Agasteeswarem, Thovalai, Kalkulam and Vilavancode Taluks formed the southern divisions of the former Trivandrum District. The people of these areas were predominantly Tamil speaking. They agitated for the merger of this area with Madras State. Also the States Reorganisation Commission recommended this. Accordingly, the States Reorganization Act was passed on 1956. On 1st November 1956 the Kanyakumari District was formed, with the four Taluks, Viz., Agasteeswarem, Thovalai, Kalkulam and Vilavancode and merged with Tamil Nadu.
Location of Kanyakumari District:
Kanyakumari is regarded as the southern most district of Tamil Nadu. The district lies between 77o 15` and 77o 36` of the eastern longitudes and 8o 03` and 8o 35` of the northern Latitudes.
The four boundary of the district can be described as it is bounded by Tirunelveli District on the North and the east, in South Eastern side there is the Gulf of Mannar. On the South and the South West, the boundaries are the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. On the West and North West, Kerala bound it.
Climate of Kanyakumari District:
The District has a favorable agro-climatic condition, which is suitable for growing a number of crops. The proximity of equator, its topography and other climate factors favour the growth of various crops as well. There is distinct variation in the climatic conditions prevailing within the district. Unlike other district in Tamil Nadu, it has a rainfall both during the South West and the North East monsoons. The South West monsoon period starts from the month of June and ends in September, While the North East monsoon period starts from October and ends in the middle of December.
People and culture of Kanyakumari District:
By seeing the people of any district anyone can get the idea of that place. Their culture, religion, aptitude, habits, beliefs, talents, etc have a bearing on how the district presents itself to others. Tamil and Malayalam are the main spoken languages of this district. Hindus and Christians form a sizeable />percentage of the population of the district and there are also a number of Muslims dominated belts in the district. But all the people live here in a friendly manner.
There is as such no caste system in the Society. The difference has weakened to a great extent especially after independence. This also became possible because of growth of education and improvements in transport and communication. Some of the communities in the district are Nadars, Nanjil Nadu Vellalars, Paravas, Mukthavas, Vilakki Thalanayar, Kammalar or Asari, Nairs, Chackarevars, Kerala Mudalis etc. Rice is the staple food of all the people in the district. Some among the poorer section also use tapioca. Beverages like tea and coffee are widely spread even in to the rural area of the district.
Festivals of Kanyakumari District :
Festivals are held in all the taluks with great pomp and galore. All are organized with various celebrations in the temples, mosques and churches. The car festival at Suchindram attracts large number of crowds in the month of January. The Kodai festival is celebrated in the month of March. It is organized in the Mondaicadu temple in the Kalkulam Taluk.
A large number of people gathered to enjoy on this. The Thirukalya Utsavam is another one, which is celebrated in the Kumaracoil temple in the Kalkulam taluk at the month of March - April. It is regarded as one of the important festivals. Pongal in January and Deepavali in November are also occasions for festivity and rejoicing among the Hindu Communities. The Malayalis celebrate Onam in August - September with feasts and sports. Muslims in all the taluks observe Muharram and Ramzan. Christmas is an important festival for the Christians. In the St.Xavier`s Church at Kottar annual festival is usually celebrated in the month of December on a very grand scale and attracts Catholic people from all over South India.
Folk arts of Kanyakumari District:
Many Folk arts as well as dances are popular in this district. They are played during the time of festivals in temples, and also different celebrations in schools etc. These are Bow Song, Thiruvathirai Kali ,Kalial , Kathakali , Ottam Thullal , Karagam Dance, Kalari etc.
Transport in Kanyakumari District:
The district is well connected by roads all through its different corners. The roads in a big way facilitate advancement in the economy of a country and they simultaneously facilitate communication as well. In the matter of surface transport, they are almost equal to the railways, which connect other parts of the country through its large railway network system. These two transports are not parallel but inter-dependent.
The Chennai-Kanyakumari Highway joins the Kanyakumari-Trivandrum road near Aralvoimozhi, which passes through Nagercoil touching other important places.
Public health and medical facilities in Kanyakumari District:
Maruthuvamalai - medicinal-hillThe Kanyakumari district has contributed much in the field of Medicine. The district is endowed by nature with several hills and mountains. These are full of rich herbs of medicinal value and minerals. Maruthuvamalai is a hill in the district located near Kanyakumari. This literally means medicinal hill, which is referred to by Therapeutics or Buddha Bikshus who belonged to the period of Emperor Asoka. This basically means as having medical and spiritual heritage. According to the tradition that the hill was a piece of the mountain Gandha Madhana dropped here while the mountain was carried by Hanuman to Lanka during the epic war between Rama and Ravana. Rare medicinal herbs are available here in abundance.
Kanyakumari played an important role in the international medical field, even before the Christian era. Even today the district has many hospitals and health centers. Government Kanyakumari Medical College has been functioning since 20-03-2007 at Asaripallam. A new Government Ayurveda Medical College has been announced to be started at Kottar shortly by the State Government as well.
Agriculture in Kanyakumari District:
Based on the agro-climatic and topographic conditions, the district can be divided into three regions. These can be mentioned as follows:
The uplands is comprising of hills and hill bases suitable for growing crops like rubber, cloves, Nutmeg, Pepper, Pineapple, etc. The Middle comprising of plains and valleys fit for growing crops like paddy, tapioca, banana, coconut etc. and the third one is the low lands comprising the coastal belt ideal for growing coconut, cashew etc.
Cropping pattern:
This District produces paddy, tapioca and oilseeds such as Groundnut and Coconut besides commercial crops like Cashew, Rubber, Fruits and Spices as well. The important feature of this district is the production of off-season Mangoes. Some of the important crops and their convenient production time is given below:
Paddy: This is the main crop of this district. It is grown in two seasons. First crop is sown in the month of April-June i.e. Kannipoo and second crop is raised in the month of September-October i.e. Kumba poo.
Tapioca: This is raised as a subsidiary food crop in this district. The main planting season can be said as April-May. In some pockets, September-October planting is also done as second season crop. It is purely raised as rainfed crop in Kalkulam and Vilvancode taluks and as irrigated crop in some area of Agastheeswaram taluk of this district.
Coconut: This is also regarded as an important cash crop of this district. The main planting season is during May to July.
Pulses: These are intercrop in tapioca. Some of the important pulses are blackgram, greengram, horsegram, cowpea and redgram. During the months of april-may and September-october pulses are grown as intercrop with tapioca whereas in the months of February-march pulses are raised as pure crop in rice-fallows.
Vegetables: These are cultivated during January-February and July-August. Vegetable is also grown as 3rd crop after the harvest of 2nd crop paddy in some parts of this district.
Banana Banana: This is cultivated mainly during March-May and September-October.
Groundnut: This is raised during March-April and October-November as rainfed crop in small extent. In addition to this pepper, cloves, arecanut, betelvine, cocoa, gingelly, ginger, turmeric, arrowroot etc. are also grown in this district in abundance.
