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Fairs and Festivals >> | |
January 06 - 15: Agricultural Festival at Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. Largest of its kind in the State. HIGHLIGHTS:
12 - 19: Annual seven day Utsavam (festival ) at Siva Temple, Ernakulam. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Ernakulathappan (Lord Siva) 13 - 16: Malabar Mahotsavam in Kozhikode. A cultural extravaganza that showcases the centuries old rich cultural heritage of the state. . HIGHLIGHTS:
14 - 23: Gramam (the Kerala village fair) at Eve's beach, Kovalam, 14km from Thiruvananthapuram. An entire Kerala village is recreated by the beach, during this ten day long festival. A makeshift Nalukettu ( traditional nair house with open courtyard in the middle of the structure) for staging programmes and shows. HIGHLIGHTS:
18: Gajamela (elephant procession) at Parthasarathy Temple, Adoor. Near Adoor KSRTC bus stand (92 km from Thiruvananthapuram). HIGHLIGHT:
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna 20: C Arthunkal Perunnal (the feast of St. Sebastian) at St. Andrew's Forance Church, 15 km from Alappuzha.(10 days festival ) HIGHLIGHTS:
Patron of the Church: St. Andrew 21: Thaipooya Mahotsavam at Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, Haripad HIGHLIGHTS::
Deity of the temple: Sree Subramnya 21: Annual seven day Thaipooya Mahotsavam at Sree Maheswara Temple, Koorkencherry, 2 km from Thrissur. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Lord Siva 22 - 30: Flower Show at Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram. A rare collection of flowers and plants - roses, anthurium, orchids and indoor plants etc. HIGHLIGHTS:
23 - 30: International Contemporary Dance Festival at Kochi. HIGHLIGHT:
27 - 02 February: Swathi Sangeethotsavam at Kuthiramalika Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. The annual classical music festival is organized 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 from this palace. HIGHLIGHT:
27 - 05 February: Ten day annual Utsavam at Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Aranmula (10 km from Chengannur). HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna February 2000 01 - 07: Gramam (the Kerala village fair) at Kochi. This is similar to the one held at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram in January. An entire Kerala village is recreated during the ten day long festival. The traditional nalukettu (the quadrangular upper class house with a central open courtyard) and its premises become the venue of the fair, where the culture, arts and crafts of Kerala come alive. The village teashop serves typical Kerala cuisine. :HIGHLIGHTS:
02 - 06: Malabar Pepper Fest at Kozhikode. This is an annual event and a rallying point for people in the spice trade from all over the world, gourmets and gastronomic experts to explore the spice coast. The fair is conducted during the pepper harvest season. 06: The annual Pattambi Nercha at Pattambi Mosque. 61 km from Palakkad. The festival is held in memory of Aloor Valiya Pookunjikoya Thangal, a Muslim saint of Malabar. The entire town is brilliantly illuminated during the festival. HIGHLIGHTS:
07 - 16: Annual ten day Utsavam at Mahadevar Temple, Ettumanur, 12 km from Kottayam. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Lord Siva 13 - 18: Five day annual Machattu Mamangam at Machatu Thiruvanikavu Temple, 3 km from Vadakancherry, Thrissur HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Lord Siva 17 - 25: Annual ten day UTSAVAM at Sreekrishna Temple. Guruvayoor, 30 km from Thrissur. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna 18 - 27: Ten day annual Utsavam at Sree Vallabha Temple, Thiruvalla. :HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Lord Vishnu 19: Pooram at Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple, Palappuram, 5 km from Ottappalam, Palakkad. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy 19: Chottanikkara Makam the annual nine day festival at Sree Rajarajeswari Temple, Chotanikkara, 12 km from Ernakulam. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy 20: Annual Pongala Utsavam (to which only women are allowed) at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy 20: Seven-day Pooram at Pariyanampetta Bhagavathy Temple, Kattukulam 40 km from Palakkad.
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy 21 - 27: Week-long Dance Festival at Nishagandhi open air theatre, Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram.
22 - 29: Annual Uthralikavu Pooram at Sree Ruthira Mahakalikavu (Uthralikavu), Parithipra, Vadakancherry, Thrissur. A prominent festival in Central Kerala HIGHLIGHTS
Deity of the temple: Goddess Kali 24 - 27: Theyyam Festival at Kuttikkol Thampuratti Bhagavathy Temple 25 - 05 March: Ten- day Utsavam at Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakali Temple, Paripally, 48 km north of Thiruvananthapuram. Elephants are offered as nercha (ritual offering for prosperity) by individuals and institutions. Today over 50 elephants participate in the ritual procession. HIGHLIGHTS
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhadrakali March 2000 04: Aluva Sivarathri (the night of Lord Siva) at Siva Temple, on the banks of the river Periyar at Aluva, 16 km from Ernakulam. HIGHLIGHTS
10: Annual Bharani Utsavam at Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple, 5 km from Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district. HIGHTLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy 11 - 13: Kakkoor Kalavayal at Kakkoor, Piravam, Ernakulam district. The Kalavayal (cattle fair) is a traditional post harvest festival of the peasants of Kakoor. The legendary festival has some religious nuances too. It is believed that the deities of the two neighbouring villages - Edapara and Ambasseri - are sisters and they meet annually at the Kalavayal
13 - 20: Annual seven day Utsavam at Sree Karthyayini Temple, Cherthala, Alappuzha (on the Ernakulam - Alappuzha route) HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Karthyayini 18: Concluding day of the annual seven day Arattupuzha Pooram at Arattupuzha Temple, 14 km from Thrissur. HIGHLIGHTS
Deity of the temple: Sree Ayyappa 19: Annual Utsavam at Janardhana Swamy Temple, Varkala, 55 km from Thiruvananthapuram. hIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Lord Vishnu 20 - 23: Kondotti Nercha at Kondotti Mosque, near Calicut airport. The mosque, known as Pazhayangadi mosque, dates back to 18th century. Is associated with the Muslim saint Mohammad Shah who is famous as Kondotti Thangal. attracts devotees from all over Kerala. 21 - 30: Ten-day Utsavam at Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Ambalapuzha, Alappuzha district. The daily offering of palpayasam (deliciously sweet milk porridge) at this temple is famous all over Kerala. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna 24: Utsavam at Poruvazhi Malandam Temple, 12 km from Adoor, Pathanamthitta district. The only temple in India dedicated to Dhuryodhana, the Antagonist in Mahabharata. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Dhuryodhana 31 - 05 April: Kottakkal Pooram at Sree Viswambara Temple, Kottakkal, Malappuram district. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Dhanvantari April 2000 03: Vallangi Vela, Nenmara, Palakkad HIGHLIGHTS;
Deities of the temples: Nenmara - Goddess Bhagavathy; Vallangi - Lord Siva 07: Eight-day Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam at Sarkara Devi Temple, Chirayinkeezhu, 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy 07: Bharani festival at Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple, Kodungalloor, 50 km from Kochi. Velichappadu (oracles) from all over the state gather. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy 08 - 11: Malayatoor Festival (the annual feast on post-Easter Sunday) at the Shrine of St. Thomas, Malayatoor, 52 km from Kochi. HIGHLIGHTS:
08 - 17: Ten-day festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple; Lord Vishnu 13 - 22: Ten- day Mamangam at Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple, Near Ponnani, Malappuram. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Navamukunda (Lord Vishnu) 14 - 24: Kadamanitta Padayani at the Kadamanitta Devi Temple, 6 km from Pathanamthitta HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy May 2000 07: Edathua Perunnal at St. George Church, Edathua, 23 km from Alappuzha. HIGHLIGHTS:
11: Thrissur Pooram at Thekinkadu Maidanam, Thrissur HIGHLIGHTS:
13 - 22: Ten-day Utsavam at Koodalmanikyam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur. HIGHLIGHTS:
Deity of the temple: Sree Bharatha (brother of Sree Rama) June 2000 15 - 16: Annual Ochirakali at Parabrahma Temple, Ochira, Kollam. The temple has no shrine or presiding deity. It is consecrated to the cosmic consciousness. Ochirakali commemorates the war between the rulers of Kayamkulam and Ambalapuzha principalities on the Ochira Padanilam (battlefield) HIGHLIGHTS:
July 2000 14: CHAMPAKULAM BOAT RACE [Vallamkali] at Harippad, Alappuzha. One of the most popular boat races.. HIGHLIGHTS;
August 2000 12: NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE, Punnamadakayal, Alappuzha. The greatest event on the backwaters of Kerala, is held on the second Saturday of August every year. Snakeboats compete for the prized trophy instituted by Jawaharlalalal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. HIGHLIGHTS;
September 2000 ATHACHAMAYAM Festival to mark the beginning of Onam festival, Kerala's national festival, on the Atham day, Month of Chingam ( Aughust) fHIGHLIGHTS;
01 - 10: Ten day CHANDANAKUDAM MAHOTSAVAM at Beempalli, 8 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Devotees make an offering of coins in earthern pots (kudams) which are smeared with sandal paste, hence the name chandanakudam HIGHLIGHTS;
08: Manarkaud Festival at St. Mary's Church, Manarkad, near Kottayam HIGHLIGHTS:
09 - 15: Onam Celebrations.The annual harvest festival of Kerala. Celebrations are on for ten days, beginning with the atham day of the Malayalam month chingam. HIGHLIGHTS:
12: PULIKALI 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). 15: Aranmula boat race; 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.
OCTOBER Chandanakkudham Mahotsavam Thiruvananthapuram, Bheemapaly Mosque Ten-day festival commemorates the anniversary of the death of Bheema Beevi, a pilgrim who travelled to Kerala from Mecca ,who is now honoured a saint. Thousands visit her tomb at Bheemapally ,where they leave offerings of money and flowers. Dewali.: Festival of lights, celebrated through out India. In Kerala it does not involve the same extensive festivities as in other parts of the country. October 2; Gandhi Jayanthi, Birthday of Mahathama Gandhi, father of the nation. November: Karthika Festival: Significant in South India, its focal point at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu where a huge beacon blazes for several days. Keralites also participate. In Kerala, houses are illuminated. Mandalam The month of Virchikam (malayalam) ritually significant for Hindus, many fast and attend special prayers in temples. December
Kollam Ashtamudi Craft & Art Festival of India 26 to January 10 Celebrated with Midnight Mass . Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) - 22-29 Jewish festival, Kochi Synagogue A time of re-dedication of the temple involving the lighting of candles. Dates back to 175 BC when the temple at Jerusalem was re-dedicated, following its desecration earlier a decade. Kochi Carnival :25-31 Celebrates Kerala's many art forms with performances, exhibitions and demonstrations. Ramadan (Ramzan, Id-ul-Fitr) :27 Locally known as Cheriaperunnal, Ramadan is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar and marks the time of fasting when Muslims do not eat, drink until sunset. Id-ul-Fitr celebrates the end of the month-long fast. ThiruvathiraDec/Jan Divided opinion on the festival history. Some say it commemorates birth of Shiva. others, it honours Kamadeva, a deity associated with lust. Traditionally celebrated by Nair women who, as part of the rituals, visit temple in the early -morning. Young girls often perform the Thiruvathirakali, a traditional Kerala dance in the temple premise.  |