Kerala Celebrates First Day of Chingam with Traditional Attire

The Malayalam New Year began on Monday with Chingam 1, the opening day of the Malayalam calendar. While the month of Karkidakam is known for its restraint, Chingam brings a vibrant shift, celebrated especially by Kerala’s Hindu population. Families visited temples to seek blessings for the coming year, and many chose the day to start new business ventures. The Sabri Mala Temple opened its gates for the monthly puja, drawing crowds up the hillside. A notable feature of the celebration was the attire: women stepped out in richly draped Kerala sarees, and men opted for simple white dhotis, creating a visual tapestry of the state’s heritage.