Fairs and Festivals

In Kerala, life is a celebration and there is no dearth of festivals here. Adding to the magnificence of the festivals are fleets of caparisoned elephants, mounted by men holding white plums swaying in the air, classical, folk and ritual arts. The dates of the festivals change every year according to the indigenous Malayalam lunar calendar.

Onam : Onam is a celebration of Kerala's harvest and new year and lasts for a week, leading up to the full moon. Traditional feasting includes the painting of homes, new clothes, the floral decoration of swings and courtyards, and dancing to greet the idols of King Mahabali, whose legendary rules signifies prosperity.

Vishu : Vishu, the new year in Kerala is celebrated on the first day of the Malayalam month medam, the day the sun crosses the equator. The festival highlights are Vishu kani( the auspicious object one sees first on waking up on the vishu day ). The kani is arranged in the bell metal vessel with raw rice, ripe cucumber, betel leaves, betel nuts, metal mirror, golden yellow konna flowers.

Deepavali : This is the happiest festival of the Hindu calendar and at night countless oil lamps are lit to show Rama the every home from his period exile. 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.

Christmas : Christmas is celebrated with equal enthusiasm by all communities in Kerala. The festival highlights are decoration of stars in houses right from the second week of December, Christmas trees, decorations and festive music ring through the State, Mid night mass and special rites at all Christian churches and colourful illuminations.

Thrissur Pooram : It is an annual temple festival in Trichur held in April-May and includes a spectacular procession of ten temple deities. Some thirty elephants of a uniform size are dressed in glittering chain-mail to lead the celebrations. Atop them sit Brahmin priests under silk parasols. The procession winds its way through the streets throughout the day to the accompaniment of ritual music, while devotees make offerings of rice and flowers. Following sunset, the spectacle is again enacted, this time accompanied by flaming torches and fireworks and heralded by the roll of drums.

Athachamayam : Events to mark the beginning of the Onam festival on the Atham day of the Malayalam month at Tripunithura, Cochin. Spectacular procession of caparisoned elephants, colourful floats, musical ensembles, ritual and classical dances are some of the highlights of the event.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race : This is the greatest event on the backwaters of Kerala held on the second Saturday of August every year. This competition takes its name from India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who inaugurated it in 1952. It is excitement all round as snake boats each manned by over a hundred oarsmen, out through the waters like wind.

Indira Gandhi Boat Race : Indira Gandhi Boat Race is a grand fest on the rolling backwaters of Kochi. Conducted in the last week of December, it is a fitting finale to the Tourism Fair, which attracts travellers from all parts of the globe.

Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race(Pulinkunnu Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race) : This boat race is held on two weeks after the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. It is held at Pulinkunnu, 10 km away from the Alleppey town. The boat race is conducted in memory of Late Mr.Rajiv Gandhi, the former Indian Prime Minister.

Payippad Jelotsavam : Held in momory for the Prathista ceremony of Haripad Subramanya Temple, it has a religious significance. Jelotsavam is celebrated for three days commencing from the Onam festival day. Snake boat processions are taken out on the first two days and the competitive boat race takes place on the 3rd day.

Aranmula Boat Race : This traditional boat race is conducted at Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Aranmula in connection with the Onam celebrations . It is more of a water fiesta than a competition

Champakulam Boat Race : This is one of the most popular boat races of Kerala. Ceremonial water procession, spectacular water floats, decorated boats, folk song of the oarsmen highlight the event.

Kakkoor Kalavayal : This cattle fair is a traditional post harvest festival of the peasants of Kakkoor, 10 Kms from Piravom, Ernakulam district.The centuries old festival also has a religious legend connected to it. It is believed that the deities of the two neighbouring villages Edapara and Ambasseri are sisters and they meet annually at the Kalavayal. Exhibition of agricultural products, implements, and other traditional crafts, folk art performances, music concerts, elephant processions and spectacular bullock cart race on the concluding day are the highlights of the fair.

Malabar Pepper Fest at Calicut : 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.

Nishagandhi Dance and Music Festival : This annual celebration is an august gathering of the connoisseurs of find Indian classical dance forms including Bharathanatyam, Odissi, Mohiniyattam and Kathak. This Festival is held at Nishagandhi open air auditorium in Trivandrum.

Kalpathy Ratholsavam : Kalpathy Ratholsavam is a spectacular procession of beautifully decorated temple chariots drawn through the streets by thousands of devotees.The main centre of the festival is Kalpathy Sree Viswanathaswamy temple, situated 3Kms from Palakkad town. This temple is the oldest Siva temple in Malabar built in 1425AD.