Festivals of Kerala

Travel to Kerala to experience the colourful festivals of Kerala. Kerala is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and festivals are an integral part of the social and cultural structure of Kerala. In Kerala, every community, every religion has something to celebrate about all through out the year. But one festival that is celebrated irrespective of caste and creed all over Kerala is Onam. There are a few other festivals that are important like - Thiruvathira, Vishu and Sabarimalai pilgrimage. There are also many local festivals in Kerala and every temple and church has its own annual festival.

Onam: Travel to Kerala during Onam to experience vibrant hues of God's own country. The festival of Onam is celebrated in Kerala when the August monsoon rains give way to the pleasant warmth of autumn. Onam is the celebration of the return of Mahabali, the once and future king. This king ruled "when all men were equal, when no one was poor, when there was neither theft nor dread of thieves".

Kerala Boat Festivals: A must see during your travel to Kerala is the Kerala Boat Race festival. On the great waterways of Kerala, fierce Vallom Kallies (boat races) and water carnivals erupt every year in a dramatic spectacle and hold tens of thousands of people spell-bound, cheering the action, laying bets, goading the boatmen to row faster. The water carnivals and snake boat races herald the week of the great harvest festival of Onam. It is Kerala's most important celebration and in scores of villages spread across central Kerala, competitive races featuring the smaller churulans, oadis, and irrutukuthies provide expression to the spirit of an intrepid, athletic people, born and bread near water.

Vishu: Vishu falls on the first of Medam (March-April), which is the Malayali New Year's Day. Since it is considered propitious to view good things on this day for year round good fortune, Vishu morning is an important time in Kerala.

Thrissur Pooram: The most spectacular festival of Kerala is Thrissur Pooram. Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state, introduced this festival. Celebrated in Medom (April-May) the festival parades the fulgent faces of Kerala culture. With every passing year Thrissur Pooram, the temple festival, attracts large masses of devotees and spectators to Kerala.

Makaravillakku at Sabarimala: For centuries, Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta has been a major pilgrim centre in Kerala attracting lakhs of devotees from all over India, more so from the southern states. The presiding deity is Lord Ayyappa known as Dharma Sastha, a considered symbol of unity between Vaishnavites and Saivites.

Christmas: With a large number of Christian population in Kerala, Christmas is a festival that is celebrated with much vigour and enthusiasm in the state. Easter is also an important festival in the state. The numerous churches that are spread across the state brighten up around this time.

Theyyam: Theyyam is one of the popular festivals to be seen on your Kerala travel. It is the worship of the deity; on the other hand, the dancer is also the deity. Theyyam celebrates primarily the Mother Goddess. Animals, serpents and trees also figure in worship.

Other important festivals of the state are Eid, Muharram, and other festivals that are traditionally celebrated all over the country.