Kerala Festivals

Although there is a specific festival season in Kerala in March & April, there seem to be a constant and unstaunched flow of festivals throughout the year.

Aluva Sivaratri  : In Ernakulam district. The celebration is the birth day of Siva, a Hindu God.Held in the sand beds of Periyar River at Aluva. The main function is a Karma to the departed souls by someone from the family. The Karma will be performed by the priests. About half a million gathers.

Guruvayur Ekadasi : Thrissur district. In Guruvayur temple. Held in November/December. The attractions include elephant pageants and 12-day Chembai Music Festivals. In the Music Festival each day different teams participate. A great draw all the days.

Kochi Carnival  : In Ernakulam district. The carnival is during the last 10 days of the year. White paper buntings adorn streets and houses in Fort Kochi and Mattanchery. Impromptu competitions and celebrations occupy sidewalks. Competitions include floor drawings, tug-of-war, bicycle races, swimming in the sea and beach foot-ball. The carnival concludes at midnight on 31 December with fireworks.

Kodangallur Bharani : At Kodungallur in Thrissur district. Held during March/April.7-day festivity. Singing of lewd songs with sword in hand to appease the God, Kali, is the main item here. Despite protests from the learned, the system still continues, though in a low key. Most of the devotees are from north Malabar.

Kalapoottu (Cattle Race) : In Palakkad. Held annually during January/December. Conducted by Cattle Race Club of India. About 120 pairs of cattle take part. Large crowd gathers to witness.

Puthunjaya : In Ernakulam district at Malayattur St Thomas Church. Church festival.About half a million devotees with big Cross on their back climb the hill to reach the hill-top church.

Mannarsala Utsavam The temple is located at Haripad, in Alleppey, on the day of Ayilliam asterism during the months of Kanni and Thulam (Sept-Oct)all the serpent idols in the grove and the temple are taken in procession to illam. This festival is a famous festival and attracts huge devotees.

Triprayar Ekadasi: In Thrissur district at Thriprayar. Held during December/January. Elephant pageants and fireworks are the main attraction.

Athachamayam: At Thripunithura in Ernakulam district. The festival is in Poornathrayesa temple. 10-day long festival starts 10 days prior to Onam. There will be cultural programmes. The first day a colourful procession heralds the festival.

Thrissur Pooram:The biggest temple festival of Kerala. The main attraction in the procession is the brigade of caparisoned tuskers heading the procession from the front. The traditional ceremony like Madathil Varau and Kudamattom are much liked by the spectators. As the colourful umbrellas unfurled the spectators started waving and shouting with joy. This traditional ceremony of Kudamattom is one of the most attractive and essential part of Thrissur Pooram. Umbrellas of different shapes and sizes are unfurled in this ritual which is a great sight to watch.
Panchavadyam and Ilanjithara Melam will be started at 11:30am which filled the atmosphere with the rhythm of chenda and clarinets. The pooram ground is filled to its maximum with huge number of spectators assembling from all over the country. Along with the locals many foreign tourists also have come to witness this grand festivity.
The much hyped firework display began at 3am with variety of sparkling and noisy fireworks, taking the crowd on their feet. This massive firework showcased a variety of colourful and dazzling display of fireworks lighting sky with sparkles. The pooram will wind up next day afternoon with the traditional Pakal Pooram (Day procession).