In the last day(21jan2011) I was in Kerala (India) I visited the town of cochin .Here the people has a house like us : with bricks and clay tiles.About one people on four belive in our god ,IHWH!This is a basis for understanding customes and life of place.At first I visited the dutch palace(no allowed photos inside)
It was built by the portuguese and presented to  Veera Kerala Varma (1537-65), Raja of Kochi, in 1555 AD. The Dutch carried out some extensions and renovations in the palace in 1663,

 

The walls are very thik ,the ceiling is in worked wood ,I think mahogany and every walls are paited with holy places and gods

This is an important port for spices .Since the thid century BC jews ,black from Ethiopia speaking getz languages and white jews speaking Aramaic language where here to buy local products and sell horses.So the are two comunity of jews in Cochin!!

the vitreus china tiles are painted with cobalt in hight tamperature  all different and are from china.

Built sometime in the 16th century, the Kadavumbagam (“by the side of the landing place”) Synagogue stood at the edge of the Jewish neighborhood in Cochin, India, apparently built over the ruins of an earlier synagogue.
“As you can see, it’s kind of like entering another world,” says Coen-Uzzielli, pointing to the carved wooden interior and intricately designed ceiling featuring motifs like those found in the surrounding mosques and Hindu temples of the time.
“It’s amazing to see that it’s basically the same function and same liturgy as the other synagogues we’ve seen, but the setting is totally different. The Hindu element of the temple is seen with the lotus decoration and the extenextensive use of the colors red and green.”
She explains that the Jewish community of Cochin was very diverse, with many of them coming from Europe to Cochin because it was a trade and market city.

“The Jews of Cochin absorbed the customs of communities from which they came, and where they now settled, a mix of Oriental and European Ashkenazi customs and motifs.”
A unique feature of Cochin synagogues is the presence of two reader’s platforms: one, used on Shabbat and holidays, is located on the gallery, in front of the women’s section and separated from it by a grille; the other stands in the center of the hall and is used for daily prayers.
“On Shabbat, when they read the Torah, they went upstairs to a bima close to the women’s section. So even though the women were separated from the men, they were actually closer to the Torah,” says Coen-Uzzielli.
In operation until the mid-1950s, when most Cochin Jews immigrated to Israel, the Kadavumbagam synagogue Torah ark was transferred to Moshav Nehalim, and the building was turned into a workshop for rope production, putting the carved wooden interior in danger of ruin.

Outside the is the time in witch  the temple was finished(1760).

(wilma malucelli's photo)

the entry is in the left below

Visiting the town I enter in the big church of st.francis Cristians in cochin belive that st. tomas ,the brother of jesus went here in 51 of our age.Wrong or right this is a place where cristianity has a log history for ever not in a united comunity.

St Francis Xavier's Church at Fort Kochi was built in the year 1503, by the Portuguese traders.Before it was in wood

Vasco-da- Gama, the first European to discover a route to India, died here in 1524 on his third visit and was buried in this church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

his is the church of st cruz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IIt was built by the first Portuguese viceroy, Francesco de Almeida, when he arrived in Kochi way back in 1505.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this forniture below is original of 16th century

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and so far from portugal has a new dimension stile

Later walking around the port I visit the traditional fishing nets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I try to get a fish too, but I was not luky!!!

(wilma malucelli's photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

looking about their coloured wood boat, I think how I may be happy in tripping alone in the sea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the afternoon I go to a school of traditional  dance based on the epic Indian poem that teaches

 core values.The actors are all exquisitely made up to depict gods, demons and mortals and the show has no words :only live music and pantomime lead the audience through the story. from the show’s dramatic dance finale  between :

 

 Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi ,and arjuna here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the day after I start from kerala to italy,I hope to return  here SOON....in winter of course!