Fairs & Festivals

In kerala, life is a celebration. A close look at the kerala calendar 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 - most 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 (click here for festival calender of kerala)Onam
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 (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Thrisur Pooram, This festival held at Thekinkadu Maidan at Thrissur in the month of May
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 (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Champakulam Boat Race
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 (ALLEPEY) (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
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 (ALLEPEY) (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Rajiv gandhi Boat Race
The event is a memorial to the former prime minister.

Highlights
Colourful water procession
Water floats
Boat races


CHRISTMAS (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Christmas
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 (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Indra gandhi Boat Race
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. 14 january 2002



MAKARAVILAKKU (click here for festival calender of kerala)

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 (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Maramom convention
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)


ARANMULA VALLAMKALI (click here for festival calender of kerala)
Arunmulla Vallamkali
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.
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