KERALA FAIRS & FESTIVALS
In
kerala, life is a celebration. Just browse through the kerala calendar, it
will reveal that this is a land where the festivals never end, adding to the
magnificance of the festivals of kerala are fleets of caparisoned elephants,
mounted by men holding white plumes swaying in the air the - m
ost
breathtaking of kerals's visual wonders. While there is no dearth of
festivals in the state, the excitement speaks during the season of onam,
exemplified in the legendary boat races and the week - long festivities,
understandably, all these celebrations take place with a lot of fanfare.
Onam (Festival
Calender)Onam is the annual harvest festival of
kerala. 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.
Thrissur
Pooram (Festival
Calender)This festival held at Thekinkadu Maidan
at Thrissur in the month of May.
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 (changing of umbralla from
hands to hands) Chendamelain ( kind of drums) Panchavadyam ( five typical
instruments played) Spectacular fireworks display
Champakulam
Boat Race (Festival
Calender)
This
is one of the most popular boat races of kerala.
Highlights:
Pceremonial water procession, Spectacular water floats, Decorated boats,
Vanchipattu (folk song of the oarsmen). The chundanvallom (snake boat, over
100 feet in length, with a Raised prow similar to the hood of a snake) race.
Nehru Trophy Boat
Race (Alleppey) (Festival
Calender)This is the greatest event on the
backwaters of kerala, is held on the second saturday of august every year.
Magnificent snakeboats compete for the prized trophy which was instituted by
jawaharlal nehru, the first prime minister of india.
Highlights:
Ceremonial water procession, Spectacular water floats, Decorated boats,
Vanchipattu, Races of smaller country crafts, Chundanvellom race.
Rajiv
Gandhi Boat Race (Alleppey) (Festival
Calender)
The
event is a memorial to the former prime minister.
Highlights:
Colourful water procession, Water floats, Boat races.
Aranmula
Vallamkali (Festival
Calender)10 km from chengannur. This traditional
boat race conducted at sree parthasarathy temple, aranmula in connection
with the onam celebrations is more of a water fiesta than a competition.
Deepavali
(Festival
Calender)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.
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.
Christmas
(Festival
Calender)Christmas is celebrated with equal
enthusiasm by all communities in kerala.
Highlights: Stars
decorate houses right from the second week of december. Christmas trees,
decoration and festive music ring through the state. Midnight mass and
special rites at all christian churches. Social and cultural events.
Fireworks and colourful illuminations.
Indira
Gandhi Boat Race (Festival
Calender)Indira gandhi boat race on the cochin
backwaters. The race is organised as part of celebration cochin.
Highlights:
Over sixteen snake boats participate in this scintillating event.
Makaravilakku
(Festival
Calender)Makaravilakku at sree dharamasastha
temple, sabarimala. This is one of the few occasions when the temple is open
to the public.
Highlights: On the evening of makara
sankranthi, the makara vilakku/makara jyothi ( the light of kakara) 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.
Maramom
Convention (Festival
Calender)16 km from thiruvalla, pathanamthitta,
on the banks of river pamba in february, every year.
Highlights:
Considered the largest gathering of christians in asia, Bible study and
discourses by scholars from india and abroad, Religious readings, Hymnals,
Faith healing sessions, People arrive in country crafts (valloms)
Festivals
Calendar
(these dates should be considered only as an approximate
calendar and the dates have to be confirmed with the local authorities.)
| Festivals |
2004 |
2005 |
| Thrissur
Pooram Thrissur |
May 1 |
Apr 29 |
| Aranmula
Boat Race Aranmula, Pathanamthitta |
Sep 1 |
|
Nehru
Trophy Boat Race
Punnamada Back water Alappuzha |
Aug 14 |
|
| Champakulam
Boat Race Champakulam Alappuzha |
Jul 02 |
|
Payippad
Boat Race Payippad
Near Harippad Alappuzha District |
Aug 30 |
|
| Onam
Festival |
Aug 28 |
|
