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Kalpathy Ratholsavam at Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple, is one of the most remarkable festivals of Kerala. This Palakkad Kalpathy Chariot Festival is celebrated during the month of November, every year. Located near Palakkad on the banks of the Kalpathy River, a tributary of the Bharathapuzha River, this temple is supposed to be over 700 years old. (more…)
Lasting more than continuous 100 days Soorya festival held annually in Thiruvananthapuram is considered to be the largest and longest cultural festival of Asia. Soorya Krishnamoorthy founded ‘Soorya Stage and Film Society’, Asia’s biggest cultural society according to the Limca Book of records. This Society organizes Soorya Festival every year to promote Indian Arts and Culture. The Soorya Festival features dance and music, but also films,documentaries,video films, theatre, Ramayana mela, poetry and story sessions at the 100 day long fete. (more…)
Onam festival in Kerala begin with the Tripunithura Athachamayam which is held on Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam ( August – September). The event is a major tourist attraction. Several traditional art forms will be on display in the grand Athachamayam procession– chendamelam, Pambamelam Panchavadyam, Thiruvathrakali,Kolkkali, Pulikkali,Shingari melam,Mudiyattom,Pookavadi , Theyyam, Karakattam, Ammankudam, Mayilattam and many more are presented as floats. Many tourists and local people flock together to witness the procession of caparisoned elephants and colourful tableaus. (more…)
An integral part of Kerala`s Onam festivities in Thiruvanthapuram is the making of the Onavillu(the bow). The Onam are considered a symbol of prosperity. They are ibroad piece, of wood, tapering on both sides, on which miniature paintings of Ananthasayanam, Dasavatharam, Sree Rama Pattabhishekam, and Sreekrishna leela are portrayed. The bow is offered to the city’s ruling deity Lord Sree Padmanabha Swamy as part of the annual ceremonies of the Onam festivities.
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The Kumbha Bharani festival, also known as the Bharani Utsavam, is a spectacular annual celebration held at the famous Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple at Kayamkulam, in Alappuzha district, Kerala. A festival of striking colours and processions the Chettikulangara Kumbhabharani is held on the Bharani asterism of the Malayalam calendar month of Kumbham (February-March) (more…)
The Feast on Exaltation of Cross at Holy Cross Shrine, Mapranam is celebrated during these days, the important day being 14th. Offering of human size candles is a rare function here and is performed on 13th evening at St John Chapel or Kurisu Kappela, near the main road. This is known as Thiritheliyikkal. Now a day over 500 huge candles and about 100 thousand ordinary candles are lighting every year on this day by devotees from different religions. Procession with Holy cross, cultural programmes and fire works are the other attraction during the festival days. (more…)
Kalamezhuthum Pattum is two day festival at Kanadi Madom Tharavadu situated Peringottukara about 20 K.m from Trichur. Main ritual is Roopakkalam. Figures of Lord Vishnu Maya and subsidiary deities are drawn on the floor using natural powders. Songs praising the Lord, special pooja, Oracle’s performance, fireworks etc. are the other highlights. The ritual art Thira is also performed. Holy processions, temple rituals etc are also performed. This is one of the rare temples where people from all religion can enter. (more…)
Festival at St Theresa’s church, Mahe, located on the main road connecting Kozhikode and Kunnar. Mahe was a French colony and now a part of Pondichery State. Kodiyettam on the first day and main feast is on 15th October. On 14th is also considered as an important day. (more…)
The legend is that under the rule of Mahabali, the ‘asura’ King Kerala became a paradise on earth. Indra, the Lord of Devas felt threatened and Lord Vishnu helped him to send back Mahabali to ‘Paathalam’, the neither world. Lord Vishnu took the form of a Brahmin boy Vaamana and requested Mahabali for three – foot measure of land. With a cosmic form he covered earth and the other world in two steps. For the third step the honorable king offered his head and Lord Vishnu pushes Mahabali to Paathalam, but granted him a boon to visit his land, Kerala once a year. This is Onam. From Atham day onwards flower mats are laid out on the courtyard of every household to welcome Mahabali. (more…)
Aarattu at Padmanabhaswami Temple
Kodiyettu, Aarattu, temple arts etc. are performed during these days. Arattu is an important ritual performed at the end of the festival. It is a holy bath of the main deity accompanied by ceremonial procession. (more…)
The annual Perunnal or feast at the Parumala Church St.Peter’s & St. Pauls Orthodox Church in Thiruvalla is to commemorate the death anniversary of Bishop Mar Gregorios Metropolitan, the declared saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church of Kerala. The bishop is interred in the church. During the Orma Perunnal day or commemorative feast, special prayers are offered and rituals performed. There is also a ceremonial procession through the town, attended by devotees from all over the State. The Parumala Church is at Parumala in Pathanamthitta district and about 11km from Thiruvalla (railway station).
Thrissur Puthanpalli Oottuthirunal
Feast at Puthanpalli, Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours at Thrissur. Thousand of Pilgrims will gather for this Oottuthirunal the feast. This gothic style church is supposed to be the biggest in India with a plinth area of about 25000 sq.ft and 15 Altars. The bells producing seven musical sounds and the murals are other features of the church.
Recently constructed Bible Tower is an attraction with a lot of painting.
Festival at the ancient church Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam, Blessed Virgin Mary located in Vallarpadam Island, Kochi at Ernakulam. The Church is dedicated to St Mary and the devotees affectionately called her as Vallarpadath Amma (mother of Vallarpadam). St Mary is the patron saint of sailors and fisher folk and is believed to possess miraculous powers to save her devotees from dangers of the sea. This Catholic Church stands on a small island near Ernakulam amidst the picturesque Kerala backwaters encircling the Kochi harbor. The Church is believed to have been established in 1676 by the Portuguese. The annual feast here lasts more than a week. Nearest railway station Ernakulam South is about 5km. From Ernakulam South it is accessible by boat or by road.
Vijayadashami day is considered as the most divine day for Hindus to teach the first structure of language to kids. On this day kids in the age group of three, starts ceremonial study of the language Malayalam by helping them to write Hari Sree Ganapathaye Namah… in raw rice and also on their tongue using finger ring of gold under an Ezhuthassan (tradition teacher). Some of the important venues where this ceremony is held are: (more…)
Ancient St. Andrew’s Forane Church is located at Arthunkal, Alapuzha district. The church premise is the venue where Arthunkal Perunnal is held. It is a 10-day festival which commences on 20th Jan 2011. The Arthunkal Perunnal is the annual feast of the patron Saint Sebastian. (more…)
Thaipooyam festival will be held at Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, Haripad, Alappuzha district on 20th Jan 2011. The temple is located just a kilometre away from Harippad town. The presiding deity is Lord Murga, known as Subramanya Swamy, is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.It is one-day festival and devotees perform most powerful propitiatory rite that is Kavadi. Decorated Kavadi slung across the shoulders of devotees and kavadi bearer perform dances in a high state of fervour, then proceed towards temple. (more…)
Event date: 15.01.2011
Venue: Kanjiramattom Mosque, Ernakulam district
Kanjiramattom Mosque was built in the memory of Sheikh Fariduddin. Glorious Kodikuthu festival is celebrated with much revelry at the mosque during January every year. Tourists frequent this place on the festival day to have a glimpse of the event. (more…)
Vishu is one of the favorite festivals of Keralites in Kerala. Celebrated on the first day of the medam, Vishu signifies the beginning of the New Year in the Malayalam Calendar. Vishu is celebrated in traditional splendor by Hindu households to usher in another year of prosperity. (more…)
Adoor Gajamela
Event date: 16.01.2011
Venue: Parthasarathy Temple, Adoor
The main Kerala Tourism attraction of Adoor, Pathanamthitta is the very famous and old Hindu temple Sree Parthasarathy Temple taking the centre stage in the town. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna who was a charioteer to Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war. The premise of this temple is the arena for the Adoor Gaja Mela. Adoor Gajamela has unique elephant pageant that is held as part of 10 day annual festival. The highlight is undoubtedly the majestically costumed nine elephants with towering parasols that take part in a spectacular parade. (more…)
Thaipooya Mahotsavam, Koorkenchery
Event date: 20th Jan 2011
Annual Thaipooyam festival will be celebrated at Koorkenchery Sree Maheshwara Temple dist on 20th Jan 2011. The place lies about 2km away from Thrissur and 60 km from Cochin International Airport. People from different parts of Kerala come together in this festival. (more…)
Situated about 15 kms from the Thrissur town is the 3000 year old Arattupuzha temple. The temple is set in the tranquil and serene village of Arattupuzha. This village temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Ayappa who is the presiding deity of the temple. An event called “Devamela”, meaning the coming together of all the Gods and Goddesses at one place is hosted annually at the temple. The people believe that there is a divine power emanating from the principal deity. This belief and faith bring home the devotees in flocks. (more…)
