Festivals of Kerala
The Festivals of Kerala transcend the level of mere entertainment. They are inherited from an age-old tradition that exudes the essence of the State. A closer look at the calendar of Kerala will reveal that it is the land where festivals never end. Apart from traditional festivals like Onam and Vishu there are a score of temple festivals like world renowned Thrissur Pooram. Onam is the main festival of Kerala which is celebrated as a harvest festival which is linked with the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. Vishu is another important festival of Kerala that falls normally on 14th or 15th or 16th day of April. It is considered as the new year here. Festivals in Kerala are an important part of their culture which people here celebrate with full joy and celebrations.
Important Festivals of Kerala
Some of the main festivals celebrated in Kerala are-
Poorams
Spectacular among the festivals of Kerala are the poorams held in temple of Central Kerala. The poorams are marked by their impressive procession of caparisoned elephants and Pachavadyam, the traditional percussion ensemble. Thrissur Pooram, often referred to as the Mother of all Poorams is noted for its spectacular display of fireworks.
Elephant Pageants
No celebration in Kerala is complete without an elephant pageant. This gentle giant is accorded the privilege of escorting the numerous gods and goddesses of this land. The elephant pageants feature colorfully decked up pachyderms, with mahouts atop them holding aloft tinseled silk parasols, swaying white tufts and peacock feather fans.
Boat Races
The largest team sport in the world, the snake boat races of Kerala are held in connection with Onam, the harvest festival. The snake boat is usually manned by four helsmen, 25 singers and 100-125 oarsmen who row in unison to the fast rhythm of the vanchipattu(song of the boatman)
Top Festivals of Kerala
Arattupuzha Pooram Festival
Arattupuzha Temple is a famous temple located near Puthukkad in Thrissur district of Kerala, and is home to the annual Arattupuzha Pooram Festival that stages the grand spectacle of scores of caparisoned elephants lined up... more »
Adoor Gajamela Parthasarathy Temple
Adoor Gajamela or elephant procession is a grand festival organized on the last day of the ten day long annual festival at Sree Parthasarathy temple Adoor in the month of January to February as part... more »
Adoor Mahalingeshwara Temple Festival
Adoor Mahalingeswara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva which is located in the attractive village of Adoor, situated in the east of Kasargod. This 13th century temple on the southern bank of river Payaswini is... more »
Arattu Festival
Arattu festival of Janardhana temple is one of the big event that is been awaited for the whole year and displays the rich and vibrant color of this state. This Arattu Festival commences with Kodiyettu... more »
Attukal Pongala Festival
Attukal is a place situated about two kilometers to the south east from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. The Attukal Pongala Mahotsava is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy... more »
Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani
Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned temples in Kerala. The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha District in the south Indian state of Kerala. This annual festival... more »
Cochin Carnival
Cochin Carnival is one of the most awaited festival of Cochin in Kerala State of India that is celebrated with great joy and energy.The last ten days of December are a period of celebrations and... more »
Edathua Perunnal
Edathua Perunnal is one of the most famous festival of Kerala .In the annual feast of St George Church,named as, Edathua Perunnal Festival attracts a large number of believers from across the state to the... more »
Guruvayur Festival
Guruvayur Temple in Thrissur District of Kerala. The Guruvayur Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus and is often referred to... more »
Jagannatha Festival
Jagannatha Festival is celebrated at the famous Jagannatha Temple of Kerala once a year. This festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Kumbham which falls between February to March. The Jagannatha Temple which is... more »
Kalpathi Ratholsavam
The festival of Kalpathi Ratholsavam is celebrated as the chariot festivals is staged at the Sree Viswanatha Swamy or Lord Siva temple which is attended by thousands from all across the region of South India... more »
Kanjiramattom Kodikuthu
Kanjiramattom Kodikuthu is celebrated among the Muslim population of Ernakulam a city of Kerala. As it is celebrated in the entire state but the significance of the festival draws more crowd at this particular place.... more »
Kodungalloor Bharani
Kodungalloor Bharani is celebrated in the honor of the snowy past of Kodungalloor which was the ancient capital of Kerala, the Kodungalloor Bharani in Kerala is a much awaited festival of Kerala celebrated annually in... more »
Koratty Muthy’s Feast
Koratty Muthy's Feast is one of the most important festival of Kerala that brings the all the people of the country from all backgrounds more closely. The feast, the most important event at the St.... more »
Malanada Ketukazhcha
The Malanada Ketukazhcha is an annual festival that attracts thousands of devotees from all over the places dedicated to Duryodhana; one of the brothers of the Kauravas from the great epic Mahabharata. The festival is... more »
Malik Deenar Uroos
Malik Deenar Uroos is the one of the main occasions of Indian Muslims to celebrate the arrival of Malik Deenar in Kasargod of Kerala. It is conducted in the holy month of Muharram and lasts... more »
Mallikarjuna Temple Festival
Counting among the many festivals of the Hindus of Kerala the festival of, the Mallikarjuna Temple in Kasargod is one of the most important and significant festivals here. Mallikarjuna Temple is another temple in the... more »Mannanpurathkavu Nileshwar Kalasam
Mannanpurathkavu Nileshwar is a temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Mannanpurathkavu, Nileshwar is a beautiful temple where the worship of the Goddess Durga is done with all dedication and solemnity. A part of the worship... more »Mujamkavu Parthasarathi Kshetram Annual Festival
Mujamkavu Parthasarathi temple is situated in Ednad village of Kasaragod taluk. This is placed at four Km east of Kumbla.The annual festival lasts for seven days during February every year. On the day of `Thulava... more »
Onam
Onam is a grand festival celebrated by the people of Kerala. It is the state festival of Kerala and falls during the month of Chingam which falls between August and September and lasts for ten... more »
Nishagandhi Dance Festival
Nishagandhi Dance Festival or Nishagandhi Nritya Utsav is celebrated in the city of Thiruvananthapuram held in the month of February. This dance festival is arranged in Nishagandhi Theatre, in Kanakunnu palace. Nishagandhi open-air theater in... more »
Paripally Gajamela
Paripally Gajamela is a famous festival of Kerala and is part of the annual festival of the Kodimoottil Sree Bhagavathy Temple dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. Parippally is a village town situated in Kollam district, Kerala,... more »Parumala Perunnal
Parumala Perunnal festival is dedicated to the Christian community. Parumala Perunnal is celebrated in the Parumala Church in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala and this is a week long festivities celebrated here. Parumala Perunnal is an... more »
Thrissur Pooram Festival 2014
Thrissur Pooram Festival is an annual festival, which is celebrated in Vadakkunnathan Temple located in Thrissur dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is held especially in valluvanadu area and other touching parts of north-central Kerala like... more »
Athachamayam Festival Thripunithura
Athachamayam is the beginning of the Onam festival which is celebrated for ten-days in Kerala. It is an occasion to witness almost all the folk art forms of Kerala. The Aattachamayam Festival is held to... more »
Anantheshwara Vinayaka Temple Shashti festival
Anantheshwara Vinayaka Temple is a annual festival held on the Marga Shira month usually happens between the month of November and December. It is also called Shashti festival, which attracts thousands of devotees and pilgrims.... more »
Sabarimala Festival
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghats mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District, in Kerala. It is the largest yearly pilgrimage in world with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year... more »Swathi Sangeethotsavam
Swathi Sangeethotsavam (Swathi Music Festival) is a week-long festival of music celebrating the compositions of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. The festival is held in the month of January every year at the courtyard of Kuthira Malika,... more »Thalaklayi Subrahmanya Temple Festival
Thalaklayi Subrahmanya Temple is located a few kilometers away from the Kasargod Town.The reigning deity of this temple is Lord Suramaniya.The main festival that is held here is the Shasti.The Shasti Festival in Thalaklayi Subrahmanya... more »
Theyyam at Kanathoor
Kerala is state full of colors and vibrancy. Among many festivals of zeal Theyyam is one of them which is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. The Theyyam festival is celebrated at Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothashanam... more »
Uthralikavu Pooram festival
The Uthralikavu Pooram festival is dedicated to Goddess Kali,and is celebrated at the Sree Ruthira Mahakalikavu Temple in Vadakkancherry in the district of Thrissur in Kerala.The festival is celebrated in the month of 'Kumbham' according... more »
Chinakkathoor Pooram Festival
Chinakkathoor Pooram festival is associated with the Chinakkathoor temple in Palakkad district of the state of Kerala. Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple is at Palappuram and about 5 km from Ottappalam, Palakkad, in the area of... more »
Parumala Annual Feast
The Annual feast at Parumala is organized in honor of St. Gregorios, the only blessed saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church. This feast festival is celebrated in the month of November every year.The feast is... more »
Easter in Kerala
Easter is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the renaissance of Jesus Christ on the third day after his killing at Calvary described in the New Testament. Easter is the conclusion of the Passion of... more »
Kadammanitta Padayani
Kadammanitta is a village in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, and this festival is related with this village. It is located quiet a far away from Pathanamthitta. This place is famous for its religious unity and festivals... more »
Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam
Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam is one of the Theyyam festivals held in the state of Kerala. Theyyams that occur during Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam are ritual dances performed by men in northern Kerala. This is a well-recognized... more »
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the Islamic calendar. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year... more »
International Paragliding Festival of Kerala
Kerala is not just a place for water sports but a good place to fly too. The International Paragliding Festival of Kerala is such an event which draws thousands of people in the state not... more »Kumbala Sree Gopalakrishna Temple Festival
Sri Gopalakrishna Temple, celebrates its festival every year situated at the heart of the Kasargod town of Kerala. This is one of the most revered temple in this area. It was one of four temples... more »
Machattu Mamangam
Machattu Mamangam is the annual festival of Thiruvanikkavu temple at Vadakkancherry in Thrissur district of Kerala. This festival is a grand event which runs for five days. On the final day of the festival, huge... more »
Malabar Mahotsavam
Malabar Mahotsavam is a cultural legacy of Kerala. The event is at Mananchira ground in the heart of Kozhikode town of Kerala in the month of January every year. Malabar Mahotsavam not only depicts the... more »
Malayattoor Perunnal festival
Malayattoor Perunnal festival of Kerala is considered as a church festival which is held at the Church at Mallayyattoor in Kerala. The Malayattoor Perunnal festival which Malayattoor Perunnal festival is regarded as a church festival... more »
Manarcad Perunnal
Manarcad Perunnal is the occasion celebrating the annual feast at the St. Mary's Church at Manarcad of Kerala state. This festival is generally held September among the Christian community of Kerala every year. Manarcad Perunnal... more »
Neelamperoor Padayani
The Neelamperoor Padayani is related with the annual festival of the Neelamperoor Bhagavathy temple. Padayani is a representative victory procession of Goddess Kali after vanquishing demon Darika. The main aspect of the festival of Neelemperoor... more »
Nemmara-Vallangi Vela
Nemmara, a small village in the Palakkad District of Kerala state, known far and wide for its 'Vela' festival known as Nemmara-Vallangi Vela. It is the biggest of all vela held in Kerala. The Nemmara... more »
Ochira kali festival
The Oachira Temple is associated with the Oachirakkali festival which is an extremely ancient temple located in Oachira in Kollam district of Kerala. According to the Puranas, this temple is one of the prominent holy... more »Palakkunnu Sree Bhagavathy Temple Festival
The Palakkunnu Sree Bhagavathy Temple is one of the well-known temples of Kerala. The principle Goddess of the Palakkunnu Sree Bhagavathy Temple is Goddess Bhagavathy who is also known as Kurumba Bhagavathy. The other Gods... more »
Pariyanampetta Pooram
The festival Pariyanampetta Pooram is celebrated at the the Pariyanempatta Bhagavathi Temple is one of the famous temples of Kerala, dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. This is one of the largest Devi temples of Valluvanad Desam... more »
Pattambi Nercha
Pattambi Nercha, is a beautiful mosque celebrated in the Palakkad district of Kerala.This is the local festival celebrated in Kerala is one of the most famous celebrations held in this evergreen state and this festival... more »
Perumithitta Tharavad
Perumithitta Tharavad is an extremely popular traditional festival celebrated in the state of Kerala.The festival is held in Kottamkuzhy, Kasaragod District of Kerala.In popularity the festival is rated very high as large number of tourists... more »
Arthunkal Perunnal Festival
Arthunkal Perunnal is a grand festival mostly celebrated in the Christian community. Arthunkal is a small seaside village, situated in the west of Cherthala and north of the Alappuzha town, in the Alappuzha district of... more »
Kuttikkol Thampuratty Theyyam
Kuttikkol Thampuratty Theyyam in Kerala is another form of those celebrated Theyyam festivals held in Kerala. Kerala is state full of colors and vibrancy. Among many festivals of zeal Theyyam is one of them which... more »
Valliyoorkavu Festival
The Valliyoorkavu Festival is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawathy or Durga and related to the Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathi Temple is a spiritual destination situated at Wayanad. Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathi Temple is a Wayanad temple located at eight kilometer... more »
Vishu
Vishu is a grand festival celebrated in the state of Kerala and also in the Mangalore and Udupi districts of Karnataka. This occasion indicates the sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi which is the first... more »
Puli kalli
Onam is a grand festival celebrated of Kerala and Puli kalli is an integral part of it. The festival celebrates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the following repatriation of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It... more »Sarvajanika Ganeshotsavam
The annual Sarvajanika Ganeshotsavam at Kasargod town is celebrated in connection with Ganesh Chathurthi.The residents of this coast are ardent devotees of Lord Ganesha and hence, a number of temples have been built for the... more »Thaipoova Mahotsam Koorkancherry
Thaipoova Mahotsam Koorkancherry is one of the most celebrated festivals in Kerala.The Thaipoova Mahotsam, Koorkancherry in Kerala attracts thousands of spectators from all across the state.The annual celebration is of seven days also called as... more »
The great Elephant March
As elephants are considered as the trademark of Kerala. Elephants are also an important part of the wildlife safaris of Kerala as people also have a royal feeling while traveling on an elephant. In Kerala... more »