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10 Things Only A Malayali Can Relate To

By Anirudh Narayanan

Kerala is known as 'God's own country'. It is said to have been created by Lord Parashurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. You will find a mixture of religions and cultures living quite peacefully. The people who live here are called Malayalis or Mallus. They are loved, teased and respected wherever they go. And the best part is that you will find them anywhere on planet earth. Mallus are known to be highly adaptable and are often made fun of for their accent. But they don't give up and this helps them learn many languages and even master them.

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We bring the mallus a part of nostalgia, some fun facts and for the others a peek into our culture. Read on.

The Gulf

The Gulf

We Malayalis share a special bond with the Middle East. Why? Because Middle East has a large Malayali population. At least one person from every family lives there. That's the reason why 'Gulfil aano?' [Is he in Gulf?] is a usual question.

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Queuing For Liquor

Queuing For Liquor

Malayalis are known for their craze of alcohol. You'll know how crazy when you see a long que outside a bar midday. All mallus waiting patiently for their turn is a fun sight. You might not see this anywhere else other than in Kerala.

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Mohan Lal, Mammootty And Mollywood

Mohan Lal, Mammootty And Mollywood

The Malayalam film industry makes some of the best movies in all of India, with a limited budget. Then there is the legendary debate between who is the greatest star; Mohanlal or Mammootty! Every person from Kerala who is a Malayali can relate to this.

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Playing Cricket And Football Wearing Lungis

Playing Cricket And Football Wearing Lungis

The statewide attire of Malayalis is a lungi and we take absolute pride in it. And why not? It does provide us freedom and class. And if you're wondering how it stays on, you should see us play cricket and football in it! But the kids are latching onto newer attires. We aren't alarmed or anything. We accept things the way they are.

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The Nostalgic Greenery

The Nostalgic Greenery

Every Malayali is often reminded of his native whenever he/she sees lush greenery or a plantation of coconut trees. Kerala is filled with greenery and we often feel much closer to nature when we are in Kerala. Another reason why Kerala is called 'God's Own Country.'

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Payampuri And Kattan Chaaya[Banana Fritters And Black Tea]

Payampuri And Kattan Chaaya[Banana Fritters And Black Tea]

Malayalis usually have payampuri for tea. And we love our black tea! It doesn't matter if you're in Kerala or some other state, just point us to a malayali's tea shop and we'll know where to find our banana fritters and black tea.

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A Golden Wedding

A Golden Wedding

We Mallus have an obsession with gold! Don't ask us why, that's just the way it is. Have you seen our weddings? The girl looks like a beautiful armored vehicle made of gold! We are called gold diggers but we don't mind. You can call it our Malayali culture

Kallum, Meenum Pinne Kappayum[Toddy, fish and tapioca]

Kallum, Meenum Pinne Kappayum[Toddy, fish and tapioca]

Ah! We bet our fellow Mallus are already smacking their lips. Kallu is an alcoholic beverage made from coconut or the palm trees. The taste is an amalgamation of sweet-sour and it tastes much better than other alcoholic drinks. Kappa is tapioca and meen is fish. Fish curry can be replaced with beef as well. It is a popular food combo in Kerala.

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Naatil Evideya? [Where In Kerala Are You Put Up?]

Naatil Evideya? [Where In Kerala Are You Put Up?]

Though Mallus can be found scattered all over the world, we are immensely happy whenever we come across another person from Kerala. The first question would usually be, 'Naatil evideya?'. It means, 'Where in Kerala are you put up?'. We bet you can relate to that.

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Inn Strike Valladum Undo? [Is There A Strike Today By Any Chance?]

Inn Strike Valladum Undo? [Is There A Strike Today By Any Chance?]

Kerala is known for its hartals too, which are quite common. People usually begin their day by making sure there's no hartal! We have come to appreciate this life. We don't bear with the things that happen around us. We take instant measures. And you should know that most of these strikes are peaceful. A Malayali reading this cannot help but suppress a smile. Right?

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Story first published: Friday, February 27, 2015, 18:48 [IST]
Read more about: culture bizzare life living