The God’s own country, Kerala is the country of ultimate land of fairs and festivals. A trip during the time of fair and festival is the best way to explore the destination with rich culture and heritage. Kerala is most popularly known for its colorful festivals. The festivals of Kerala is present the best of Kerala Tradition, Music, Culture, Heritage etc. There are some of festivals of Kerala like
Onam: Onam is the state festival of Kerala which is well renowned Hindu festival that is celebrated with huge devotions. Onam is 10 day long festival observed by the all its citizens and community. It is a harvest festival celebrated once a year during the Malayalam month of August to September. Onam is celebrated with great joy and happiness. It is a traditional festival which involves the Kathakali dance, indoor & outdoor games, boat race, and several songs. Onam has been celebrated to mark the homecoming of king Mahabali, who used to rule Kerala during ancient periods. During the time of King Mahabali was said to be a golden era of Kerala. This festival is celebrated between the month of August and September and the Tiger Play, Flower Rangoli, Thumbi Thullal and Onasadya are the major attractions of Onam.
Vishu: Vishu is one of the most popular festival celebrated by the Hindus on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam(April – May). The major attractions of this festival are the Firecrackers, Payasam and Vishu kanji. It is believed that fortunes of the upcoming year depend on what object is see first on the morning of Vishu. On the day of vishu money is gifted to the younger members of each family. Mostly celebrated at home, a pooja with family and the evening feast are the highlights of this Hindu festival.
Christmas: Christmas in Kerala is celebrated with great vivacity in Kerala., Christmas has its own charm and is one of the oldest festivals in Kerala, dating back to almost 15 centuries. It is celebration on 25th December. Christians decorated their houses with lights and other decorations. Christmas trees are decorated with gift, lights and other colorful items.
Thrissur Pooram Festival: Thrissur Pooram is one of the famous temple festivals in Kerala which is celebrated for more than 200 years. This festival is celebrated at the Vadakkunnathan Temple and is celebrated for almost 36 hours. The most famous temples of Kerala host this festival and the temple is decorated with adorned elephants, music, dance, firework, and numerous religious traditions. This temple festival start towards the end of November and go up to the mid of May.
Theyyam Festival: Theyyam is an 800 years old festival which celebrated in Kerala. Here you can visualize around more than 400 types of Cultural dances which performed by the peoples who dressed as deities. The Performer goes through three stages of learning- first stage is of adorning themselves with colors, flowers and mask and the second stage involves self-torture and the third stage is dancing on a rhythm. This festival is celebrated with huge fun which brings the new level.
Kerala Boat Festival: Kerala is popularly known for its backwater rides in all around the world. The boat festival is the main highlights of the state. The beautiful river, lakes and Arabian Sea is the major part of the backwater where you can visualize the boat festivals of Kerala. Usually the boat festival is held in between July to September. Watching this race is an enthralling affair that one should not miss while on to trip to Kerala. The Champakulam Moolam boat, race, Nehru Trophy Boat race, Payippad Jalotsavam and Vallam Kali Race takes place in this festival.
Maha Shivarathri: Maha Shivarathri is one of the religious festivals celebrated in Kerala with great joy and happiness like other important festivals. Aluva is the place where Maha Shivarathri is celebrated on the grand scale on the bank of Periyar Lake. This festival falls between the months of February – March. The day is followed by the several dance performances.
Attukal Pangala: Attukal Pongala is one of the most famous festivals that hold its records in Guinness Book of world records, for hosting largest crowed annually brings together women of all caste, religion and color. This is a popular festival in Kerala which is dedicated to Attukal Devi incarnation of Goddess Parvati in Trivandrum. The festival is celebrated for 10 days which falls in February – March.
Temple Festival in Kerala: Kerala is popularly known as the Gods own country which is extremely rich on account of the numerous Hindu temples. These temples of Kerala have their own significance during ancient period. Arattu at Sree Padhmanabha Swami Temple, Ambalapuzha Arattu Temple, Ashtami, Chitturkonganpada, LokanarkavuUtsavam etc temple festivals are full of great traditional and culture. The temple festival is mostly held from February to April or May. The major attraction of these temple festival are well jeweled elephants, drummer playing music and fireworks etc.
Makaravilakku Festival: Makaravilakku Festival is one of the most famous festivals which is begins from the auspicious day of Makara Sankranthi for seven day. This festival is celebrated on 14th January every year. The idol of Lord Ayyappa is worshiped during this festival. During this festival Divya Jyothi can be appeared from 9 different places. In this celebration lot of devotees worshipping together.
Thiruvathira: Thiruvathira is a famous female festival which is celebrated during the month of December. This place is special for Thiruvathirakkali dance that take place during the celebration. Locals take bath in the river at 4 o’clock in the morning.
Kalpathi Chariot Festival: Kalpathi Chariot Festival is one of the famous festivals of Kerala which has been a part of Kerala culture around more than 700 years. It is an annual festival of Kerala. The ancient temple of Seri Visalakshi Sametha, Sri Viswanatha Swamy temple is located on the bank of the Kalpathy River. During the 15th century the temple host this festival for very long time. This is a traditional festival includes cultural dance and music. The last three days of festival attracts thousands of the tourists. This festival takes place in the second week of November.
Ramadan: Ramadan is an important festival which is a month long festival observed fasting from the food to purify the body and soul which become closer to God. As Ramjan ends Id –UI- Fitr is celebrated for 3 days.
Deepavali: Diwali is the festival of light also called Diwali means in Sanskrit “A Row of Light” which is celebrated by Hindu all over India. Diwali is a celebration of God Sree Krishna’s Triumph over the demon Narakasura. The Tamil communities of Kerala begin their celebration early in the morning with a ritual oil bath before sunrise.
Kuthiyottam and Kettukazhcha: The chettikulangara temple near kayamkulam celebration the bharani Utsavam in the Malayalam month Kumbham(February- March). As the Kuthiyottam ceremony, Young boys are required to fast.
Adoor Gajamela: Gaja mean in Sanskrit is Elephant and it is a ten day long festival held in the Parthasarathy Temple which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. This festival is celebrated as anniversary of Lord Krishna.
Aranmula Uthrattathi: The Aranmula boat race is a century old boat race which is celebrated on the occasion of Aranmula Uthrattathi. As per the legends the boat carrying offering to the temple Aranmula Parthasarathy was attacked by enemies and the neighboring people sent their snake boats to protect it. |
