Festivals in Kerala

Onam

Onam is the national festival of Kerala. Onam is celebrated every year in the month of Chingam (August - September). According to legend, Onam is celebrated as the occasion when the emperor Mahabali, who ruled Kerala in ancient times, came to visit his country once a year. In Kerala, Chingam is celebrated as Farmers' Day. Onam is also the agricultural festival of Kerala. Thiruvonam is the tenth day starting from Atham. Boat racing, Pulikalli, and Athachamayam are celebrations associated with Onam.

Boat races

Boat races are a unique water festival of Kerala, are usually held during the Onam season. The major boat races are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Payippad Boat Race, Aranmula Boat Race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Sree Narayana Trophy Boat Race, Uthradam Thirunal Pamba Boat Race, and Ayyankali Trophy Boat Race.

Puli Kali

A game in which men dress up as tigers in central Kerala (especially Thrissur) during Onam celebrations.

Atchamayam

Atthachamayam, which features all the folk art forms of Kerala, is also the beginning of the Onam celebrations. Atthachamayam is held in Tripunithura in Ernakulam district.

Vishu

Vishu is one of the most celebrated festivals by Malayalis after Onam. Vishu is celebrated on Medam 1 (April) every year. The main rituals of Vishu day are Vishu Kani and Vishu Kaineettam. Vishu Kani is prepared with the idol of Lord Krishna, Konna Poo, agricultural products, clothes, ornaments, face mirror, and lit lamps.

Thrissur Pooram

The world-famous Thrissur Pooram, celebrated in the month of Medam (April - May) during the Pooram Nakshatra, was started by the Shakthan Thampuran, the king of Cochin. The main attractions are the mela panchavadya celebrations of the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples with elephants, the Kudamattam at the elephants, and the pre-dawn fireworks. The Pooram ceremonies are held at the Vadakkumnath temple, also known as "Dakshina Kailasam" in the heart of Thrissur city, and at the teak forest grounds surrounding the temple. The main ceremonies of the Pooram are the Ilanjithara Melam, the southern descent, and Kudamattam. UNESCO has described Thrissur Pooram as the most beautiful festival in the world.

Navratri

Navratri is one of the festivals celebrated by the Hindu community across India. The last three days of the nine-day Navratri fast, which is celebrated for education and prosperity, are important in Kerala. In Kerala, the importance of Navratri is given to Goddess Saraswati. The Navratri festival generally falls in the month of October. The celebration begins from the month of Ashwin and ends with the commencement of education on Vijayadashami. The Bommai kolu ritual is a ritual associated with the Navratri festival. The Bommai kolu ritual involves performing Goddess Puja by placing a decorated kalash around it and arranging various bommas on a platform.

Thiruvathira Festival

It is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (November-December), on the day when the white moon and the star Thiruvathira in the Shukla Paksha coincide. Kerala women celebrate Thiruvathira. According to Hindu mythology, the star Thiruvathira in the month of Dhanu is the birthday of Lord Shiva. On the day of Thiruvathira, women perform hand-claps (Thiruvathirakkali) around a lamp in the courtyard after dusk.

Christmas

Christmas is a holy day according to the Christian calendar. Christmas is celebrated extensively in Kerala, as it is all over the world, on December 25, the birthday of Jesus Christ.

Milad Sharif

This day, the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is celebrated across Kerala, regardless of caste or religion.

Kottankulangara Chamayavilakku

The Chamayavilakku festival at the Kottankulangara Devi Temple in Chavara, Kollam district, is a unique festival. It is a ritual where men dress up as beautiful women and march in a procession to the temple carrying traditional lamps accompanied by musical instruments on the festival night.

Ochirakali

Ochirakali is a festival held in Kollam district to commemorate the heroic battles fought by the Venad and Kayamkulam kings during their reign. Ochirakali is held every year on the first and second days of the month of Mithun.

Kalpathi Chariot Festival

The chariot festival is held in Kalpathi in Palakkad district. Held every year in the month of Thulam (October - November), the festival center of this chariot festival is at the 700-year-old Vishwanath Temple located on the banks of the Kalpathi River.

Chettikulangara Bharani

This is a festival of the Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple located in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district. It is held every year on the day of Bharani in the month of Kumbha (February - March). The main attractions of this festival are the Kuthi Yottam and Kettu Kazhcha.

Kottiyoor Festival

A festival held by the temples of Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor on both banks of the Bavali River in Kottiyoor, Kannur district. This 28-day festival is held every year in the months of May-June.

Aanayoottu

Aanayoottu is mainly performed at the Vadakkumnatha Temple in Thrissur. Aanayoottu is performed for the Gajaveeras as a dedication to the Lord.

Nenmara Vela

The 21-day Nenmara Vela organized by the Nellikulangara Bhagavathy Temple in Palakkad is the biggest spectacle in Kerala after Thrissur Pooram. The main attraction of the Nenmara Vela, which is held every year in the month of Meenam (March-April), is the magnificent procession of 30 Gajaveeras wearing forehead-worn headbands.

Arattupuzha Pooram

Known as the Mother of Poorams, the Pooram is held at the Arattupuzha Sree Shasta Temple in Thrissur district. It is held every year on the Pooram day of the Meenam month. The Arattupuzha Pooram is the festival with the largest number of elephants.

Uthralikavu Pooram

This is a festival at the Sree Rudhira Mahakali Kavu Temple in Paruthipra, Wadakkanchery, Thrissur district. The Pooram is held every year in the month of Kumbham.

Anayadi Pooram

The Pooram of the Anayadi Pazhayadam Sree Narasimha Swamy Temple, located north of Sooranad in Kollam district, is held every year in the month of Makaram (January - February).

Kumaranalloor Thrikarthika

Kumaranalloor Devi Temple holds a prominent position among the 108 Durga temples in Kerala. The main festival here is Thrikarthika in the month of Vrischikam.

Sabarimala Makaravilakku

The Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala marks the conclusion of the observance that lasts from Vrischikam to Makaram. The main puja on the Makaravilakku day is Makarasankrama puja. It is believed that it was during Makara Sankrama Muhurta that Parasurama Maharishi performed the consecration at Sabarimala.

Guruvayur Ekadashi

The main festival in Guruvayur is the Ekadashi Vilakku and the associated music festival. The Ekadashi in the white fortnight of the month of Vrischikam is celebrated as Guruvayur Ekadashi. The Chembai Music Festival has been held since 1974.

Panachikkadu Navaratri

The Panachikkadu Saraswati Temple is famous as Dakshina Mookambika. The main festival here is Navaratri.

Mangala Devi Chitra Pournami

Mangala Devi is a temple that devotees worship only once a year for a festival. The Chitra Pournami festival is celebrated on the day when Chithira and Pournami coincide in the month of Medam. Mangala Devi Temple is located inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. This temple was built by Cheran Chenguttavan. There is a mention of this temple in the Chilapathikaram of the Ilango Adigal. The deity here is Kannaki Devi.

Attukal Pongala

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a great temple known as the Sabarimala of women. The most important festival here is the Pongala, which is held on the day of Pooram in the month of Kumbha. Attukal Pongala holds the Guinness record for being the largest religious festival in the world attended only by women.

Aluva Shivaratri

The historic Shivaratri festival is held in Aluva Manappuram on the banks of Periyar.

Edathua Perunnal

The Edathua Perunnal is celebrated at St. George Forane church in Edathua town in Alappuzha. The Thirunal Pradakshinam, which is a procession carrying the idol of Saint George of this church, is held in the month of May.

Mannarkkad Festival

The Mannarkkad Festival is held at St. Mary's Church in Manarkkad, Kottayam district. The 'Ettunombu Festival' associated with the festival is very special. The festival is held in the month of September every year.

Vettukadu Festival

The festival is held at the Madre-de-Deus Church located in the coastal area of ​​Vettukadu in Thiruvananthapuram district. The Vettukadu festival, also known as the Kristu Raja Thirunal, is very famous and is held every year in the month of November.

Malayattoor Festival

The most popular Malayattoor pilgrimage and Ponmala climb for Malayali Christians take place during the Easter celebrations.

Kanjiramattom Kodikuthu

A festival at the Kanjiramattom Mosque in Ernakulam, built in memory of the Sufi saint Sheikh Fariduddin. The main attraction of this festival is the sandalwood pot carrying ceremony. It takes place in the month of January every year.

Pattambi Nercha

A festival held in memory of the Muslim divine,  Aloor Valiya Pookunjikoya Thangal. Pattambi Nercha is held every year in the month of March.

Appavanibha Nercha

The Appavanibha Nercha at the Idiyangara Sheikh Masjid in Kozhikode district is a festival celebrated across caste and religion. The speciality of this festival is that devotees offer fruits of the harvest and new clothes as offerings.

Beemapally Uroos

The festival at the Beemapally Dargah, a famous Muslim pilgrimage center in Thiruvananthapuram district. Uroos is held every year in the month of January. The ten-day Chandanakudam festival, which is held as part of Uroos, is attended by all people regardless of caste and religion.