Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala on Friday ushered in 'Ramayana Masam', the Malayalam month of 'Karkidakam', with prayers in homes and temples as leaders, including Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister V D Satheesan, extending greetings to the people.
Observed as a month of devotion and spiritual reflection, Ramayana Masam is marked by the daily recitation of the Adhyatma Ramayanam in households and temples across the state.
The month is also traditionally associated with Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapies.
Governor Arlekar said the observance of Ramayana Masam was a cherished spiritual tradition that had enriched Kerala's cultural legacy across generations.
"The tradition of reciting the Adhyatma Ramayanam during the holy month is a profound spiritual heritage. The Ramayana is not merely an epic but a timeless guide to righteous living, inspiring people through the ideals of truth, duty, compassion, humility and an unwavering commitment to justice," he said.
The Governor said the life of Lord Rama reminded people that moral courage and selfless service formed the true foundation of a strong and united society.
He expressed hope that the practice of families coming together to recite and reflect on the Ramayana would deepen faith, strengthen values, and foster peace, harmony and mutual respect in society.
Arlekar also wished that the eternal message of dharma would inspire people to live with integrity and dedicate themselves to the welfare of society, and extended his best wishes for a blessed and spiritually enriching Ramayana Masam.
Chief Minister Satheesan shared a picture on social media of an elderly woman and two children reading the Ramayana in a house's courtyard.
"Today is the first day of Karkidakam, marking the beginning of Ramayana Masam," he wrote.
Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar also extended Ramayana Masam greetings, saying the Malayalam month of Karkidakam was a holy period to embrace the values of dharma, compassion, sacrifice and justice embodied in the life of Lord Ramachandra.
He said the month was a time to immerse oneself in prayer and devotion and wished that the recitation of the Adhyatma Ramayanam in homes would bring peace, wisdom, prosperity and inner strength to everyone.
State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala extended Ramayana Masam greetings and described the holy month as a period of spiritual renewal during which people dedicate their minds and bodies to goodness.
In a social media post after offering prayers at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, Chennithala said another Ramayana Masam had begun, describing it as a time of spiritual purification.
Recalling the origins of the observance, he said that in earlier times, when Karkidakam was associated with scarcity and hardship, people overcame those difficulties through the "divine medicine of knowledge" found in the recitation of the Ramayana, and that the practice eventually evolved into the observance of Ramayana Masam.
He said the tradition continued to serve as a source of spiritual strength and reflection.
Karkidakam, the last month of the Malayalam calendar, is regarded as a sacred period during which devotees across Kerala read and listen to the Adhyatma Ramayanam.
Devotees also visit temples dedicated to Lord Rama and his brothers Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Ramayana Masam will conclude on August 16.
