Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 1 (IANS): Heavy overnight rain played spoilsport on Kerala's 56th birthday being celebrated Thursday.

Kerala was formed a state on this day in 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam-speaking regions.

As a mark of celebration, women wear the traditional Kerala saree and the men folk come out in the dhoti.

"Today (Thursday) is one of the rare days when we wear a saree in office but the heavy rains have ruined it," opined a group of IT professionals in the Technopark campus here.

The previous Left government had come out with a order for all men government employees to wear a dhoti at least once a week.

"For the first time in my nearly two decade's government service, Iam wearing a dhoti to office. But sadly, the rain has played havoc," quipped a top Kerala government official to IANS.

Also Thursday all government schools will have their first period as Malayalam. But not all are pleased.

"We have just eight Malayalam teachers and we have 34 classrooms. How is it possible to have the first period in all the classrooms?" asked a senior teacher.

Despite the heavy rains, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Thursday will inaugurate the Thunchathu Ezhathuachan Malayalam University at Tirur in Malappuram district.

The university is dedicated to the study of Malayalam linguistics, literature, performing arts, visual arts and architecture, cultural anthropology and cultural and intellectual heritage studies among others.