Kerala Day: Date, history and significance of Kerala Piravi

KERALA Day is celebrated on November 1 to commemorate the foundation of the state of Kerala. It is also known as Kerala Piravi after the Malayalam word “piravi” which means birth. Kerala Piravi therefore literally means the birth of Kerala. This day is observed to mark the date on which Malayalam-speaking regions were unified into one state.

History of Kerala Day

On November 1, 1956 – nearly a decade after India gained independence – the state of Kerala was created with the merger of three Malayalam-speaking regions.

Malabar, Cochin and Travancore were separate regions before Kerala was unified. After independence, Travancore and Cochin were merged on July 1, 1949 to form Travancore–Cochin.

On November 1, 1956, Travancore–Cochin merged with Malabar and the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara to form Kerala under the States Reorganisation Act. The anniversary of this day is celebrated as Kerala Day.