Kerala knows what future holds

The history of south India can be traced back to over 2,000 years. However, it was only 50 years ago when the four southern states were created along linguistic lines.

CNN-IBN unveils the changing face of south India and celebrates the Dravidian spirit in a special series The Golden South.

Aruvickara (Kerala): Que sera sera...what ever will be will be.

We may have heard these memorable lyrics since childhood. But does it make us any less curious about what the future holds for us?

Does it help if you know the previous day what the next morning is going to be like? Well, if you are really a “futuristic” person, Aruvickara village in Kerala is the place to head for as residents of this quaint settlement swear by astrology.

"I have inherited this from my parents. It's something we have been handing down from one generation to another. Though my children wouldn't now take this up, I'm sure this is what I'll be doing till my death," says an astrologer, B Omana.

Omana is just one of the many foretellers who have made fortune by predicting the futures of many. S Thankappan is a much sought after astrologer from whom, villagers believe, one can't "hide" anything.

A typical day for 69-year-old Thankappan starts with feeding his parrot. He then leaves for a nearby town for consultation where people come from far away places to meet him.

"The past, the present the future, things that cannot be hidden from me. Your life's paths, marital as well as professional are what I specialise in," says Thankappan.

While some astrologers specialise in palm reading, face reading is the forte of others. Some even team up with parrots to take a peek into your future! Funny as it may sound, it’s pure faith and nothing else that draws hundreds of customers to this village.

"I totally believe in this science. Whatever I've done in my life, I've generally done after consulting with him (the astrologer)," says a customer.

From temple steps to town streets, these astrologers are omnipresent, ensuring that they are never too far from anyone in "future crisis".

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