Events
to mark the beginning of the Onam festival on the Atham day
of the Malayalam month Chingam at Tripunithura, Kochi.
Festival
highlights: Spectacular procession of caparisoned elephants Colourful
floats Musical ensembles
Theyyam Panchavadyam Chendamelam Pambamelam
Karakattam Mayilattam Ammankudam Attakavadi Pulikali Kaduvakali
Parichamuttukali Kolkali
Onam Week Celebrations (September)
Onam
is the annual harvest festival of Kerala.
It commemorates the legendary rule of King Mahabali, during which time the
people were so happy that it aroused the jealousy of the gods. On
celebrations are on for ten
days, beginning with the atham day of the Malayalam month
chingam.
Highlights: Floral decorations Elephant processions Thiruvathirakali Classical and folk dance performances Classical and folk music recitals, Cultural pageants Water carnivals.
Conducted at the Swaraj Ground, Thrissur. Pulikali is part of the Onam celebration across the State.
Highlights: On the fourth Onam day groups of people from all over Thrissur paint their bodies in the likeness of tigers and wearing tiger masks, come to the Swaraj Ground in processions and there present a grand pulikali (tiger dance).
The first nine days in the bright half of the month of Aswina (September/October) is considered auspicious for the worship of the Universal Mother (Bhuvaneswari). The last three days - Durgashtami, Mahanavami and Vijayadasami are the most auspicious.
Festival
highlights:
Pujavaipu on Durgashtami - all articles connected with
learning, occupation and work of any kind are kept in front of the image
of Saraswathi, the goddess of learning, as a ritual offering.
Mahanavami also called Ayudhapuja because all implements are
left before the goddess and puja - devotional rites are conducted
in the morning and evening.
Vijayadasami The most auspicious day for new beginnings in any
field. Also called vidyarambham because children are newly
initiated into the world of letters on this day. Cultural festivals,
especially classical art forms, are conducted throughout the length and
breadth of the country on these nine days.
Another national festival. Deepavali means the festival of lights. There are many legends connected with the festival. Some say that it is a celebration of Sree Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura; others hold that it is the day Sree Rama returned from exile.
Festival
highlights: All houses are lit with rows and rows of small
earthern oil lamps Special devotional rites to Lakshmi, the goddess
of prosperity Entire day of merrymaking and feasting
Distribution of special deepavali sweets Fireworks and crackers.
Kalpathy Ratholsavam (November)
(the last three days of the annual seven day chariot festival) at Sree Viswanathaswamy Temple, Kalpathy, 3 km from Palakkad town. Kalpathy, an early Tamil Brahmin settlement is also known as Dakshin Kasi (the Varanasi of the south) The temple is over 700 years old.
Festival highlights: Vedic recitals Spectacular procession of beautifully decorated temple chariots drawn through the streets by thousands of devotees, Cultural programmes
Deity of the temple: Lord Siva
Celebrated with equal enthusiasm by all communities in Kerala.
Festival highlights: Stars decorate houses right from the second week of December Christmas trees, decorations and festive music ring through the State Midnight mass and special rites at all Christian churches Social and cultural events, Fireworks and colourful illuminations
Tourism Week Celebration, Kochi (December)
A secular festival that brings together the thirteen communities living in Kochi. The entire city is illuminated with colourful lights through the week.
Festival highlights: Colourful inauguration on the 26th Food
festival Procession of theme floats Gajamela (elephant pageants)
Music concerts Jalamela (water fiestas) Cultural programmes
Boat race on the 28th Carnival rally on the 1st of January.
Conducted at Kozhikode. A cultural extravaganza that showcases the centuries old rich cultural heritage of India.
Festival
highlights: Classical dances Music concerts Ritual art performances
Food festival featuring the local delicacies
Fireworks display.
Makaravilakku, Sabarimala (January)
This is one of the few occasions when the Temple is open to the public.
Festival highlights: On the evening of makara sankranthi, the makara vilakku/makara jyothi (the light of Makara) is believed to be seen on the eastern horizon. Thousands of pilgrims gather here to witness the event. Special devotional rites Devotees are decreed to practise severe austerities and total abstinence for 60 days before climbing the hills to the temple.
Deity of the temple: Sree Ayyappa
Swathi Sangeethotsavam (January)
Conducted at Kuthiramalika Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. The annual classical music festival is organised by the government of Kerala. The seven day music fest is conducted in honour of the great poet king of the erstwhile Travancore dynasty - Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma - who composed most of his works in this palace.
Festival highlights:
An august gathering of eminent musicians from across India present Indian
classical music in the lamp lit precincts of the palace.
(The night of Lord Siva) at Siva Temple, on the banks of the river Periyar at Aluva, 16 km from Ernakulam.
Festival highlights: Night long reading of the puranas and other holy texts Rural trade fair Cultural programmes Vavubali (ritual in honour of the forefathers) at dawn, the following day.
(To which only women are allowed) at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Festival
highlights: Preparation of pongala by thousands of women
devotees in the temple courtyard The chief priest of the temple goes
around carrying the sword of the Goddess, blesses the devotees, sprinkles
holy water and flower petals on them
Procession of the deity's idol Thalapoli Kuthiyottam
Caparisoned elephants Chendamelam Nadaswaram
Kumbhamkudam Classical music recitals Bharatanatyam
Mohiniattam Kathakali
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
The new year in Kerala is celebrated on the first day of the Malayalam month medam - the day the sun crosses the equator. An auspicious day for new beginnings.
Festival highlights: Vishu kani - the auspicious object one sees first on waking up on the vishu day. The kani is arranged in the uruli (bell metal vessel) with raw rice, ripe cucumber, betel leaves, betel nuts, metal mirror, golden yellow konna flowers, palm leaves and often an idol of Sree Krishna.
Vishu kaineettam: Handsel, usually a silver coin, given to all the
younger members and dependents of the family by the elders
Sadya Special devotional rites and prayers.
Held at Thekinkadu Maidanam, Thrissur.
Festival
highlights: Pageant of 30 caparisoned elephants assembled in the
precincts of the Vadakumnathan temple. The nearby Paramekavu and
Thiruvambadi temples are also participants in the festival.
Kudamattam Chendamelam Panchavadyam Spectacular
fireworks display.
Ochira
Kali is a mock fight enacted between groups of men dressed as warriors on
the padanilam (battle field). They perform a martial dance standing
in knee-deep water, brandishing swords and shields, and splashing water in
every direction. There are frequent buses from Kollam and Alappuzha.