Kerala, known as God’s own country is a tourist’s paradise. This place not only offers a lot of tourist destinations to visit, but is also known for its culture and cuisine. The diverse culture of Kerala is mainly influenced by Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. There are several festivals in Kerala and each festival has its own distinct fragrance and music. These festivals give you a glimpse of rich heritage of the state. Kerala also hosts a number of Temple festivals, which are celebrated for a number of days. Here’s a list of famous festivals in Kerala.
1. Onam
Legend: The story behind Onam festival is interesting. According to legends, the asura king, Mahabali, who ruled Kerala, became very powerful. He was a noble and just king and he was expanding his kingdom. He conquered the earth and the netherworld, which made the gods in heaven restless. They were threatened by the growing power of Mahabali. To seek help, the gods went to Vishnu, who agreed to help them. Vishnu, disguised as a dwarf Brahmin,Vamana, went to meet Mahabali, who was in the middle of a yagna (fire sacrifice). Mahabali had declared that if anyone sought anything from him during the yagna, he would grant their wish. Hence, the dwarf Brahmin asked Mahabali to give him land equivalent to his three paces. As soon as Mahabali agreed to give him the land, Vamana grew in stature. With the first step he covered the sky and with the second step, he covered the earth. As one more step was remaining, Mahabali asked him to place the third step on him head. With the final step, Vamana sent the Mahabali to netherworld but he granted Mahabli’s one wish to visit the earth and meet his people once a year. Onam is celebrated on the day Mahabali returns to earth to meet his subject.
The most important part of the celebration is the Sadya, the lunch on Thiru Onam. Around 26 dishes are prepared and served on a plantain leaf. Attending Onam Sadya is a great way to experience the culture of the state through its food. Many hotels in Kerala and outside the state host Onam feast.
Festival: “Vishukani” is a collection of many prosperous things such as grains, vegetables( cucumber, tender mango, jackfruit), fruits, lamp (Nilavilakku), Konna flowers, coconut, gold, mirror, Ramayana or Bhagavad-Gita (Hindu holy books) etc. are arranged in a huge uruli (a circular plate made of panchaloham - five metals) with the picture of Lord Krishna in the puja room. The arrangement of the Vishukani is finished with huge care in the previous evening by the lady of the house.
“Vishu pulari” (dawn of Vishu day) is a ritual to wake up very early morning and go to puja room with the eyes closed so that the first thing a person looks is the divine darshan of God with Vishukani. This ritual is noted as “Kanikanal”. It is considered that at Vishu pulari (dawn of the prosperous Vishu day) one should watch the Vishukani have affluent, successful and peaceful year ahead.
“Vishukaineetam” is also a ritual in which head of the family or elder people distributed coin to children or younger or servants and other workers to wish them good fortune or luck. On this day some people provide Vishukaineetam as notes, on behalf of coins. It is really pleasant to watch each other how much each one has got a collection of Vishukaineetam amount.
Behind all these Vishu celebration is unfinished withou tcrackers and Vishu Sadya exists of vishu katta / vishu kanji prepared with rice, milk and coconut and other delicacies prepared with jack fruit, mango, kalan etc.
5.Attukal Pongala
The first Eid is celebrated as a matter of thanks and gratitude to Almighty Allah, after fasting the month of Ramdhan. It takes place on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of lunar calendar. Throughout the whole month of Ramdhan, Islam believers take fast during the day even without drinking water. They spend the whole month praying and reading their holy book ‘Quran’. Ladies prepare lots of different food items including snacks in the night to break the fast. On the day of Eid, people gather in the mosque and offer special prayers.
6. Christmas
Onam is the most important and popular festival in Kerala. Celebrated with much pomp and fervor, Onam is a harvest festival. Onam is also called Thiruonam and it is celebrated at the beginning of the month Chingam of Malayalam calendar. In Kerala, Onam is way bigger than Diwali, which is the most important festival celebrated across India. Onam is celebrated by everybody in the state irrespective of their community, caste, creed and class. It is also the festival that marks the return
of King Mahabali, who sacrificed his life for his people.
Legend: The story behind Onam festival is interesting. According to legends, the asura king, Mahabali, who ruled Kerala, became very powerful. He was a noble and just king and he was expanding his kingdom. He conquered the earth and the netherworld, which made the gods in heaven restless. They were threatened by the growing power of Mahabali. To seek help, the gods went to Vishnu, who agreed to help them. Vishnu, disguised as a dwarf Brahmin,Vamana, went to meet Mahabali, who was in the middle of a yagna (fire sacrifice). Mahabali had declared that if anyone sought anything from him during the yagna, he would grant their wish. Hence, the dwarf Brahmin asked Mahabali to give him land equivalent to his three paces. As soon as Mahabali agreed to give him the land, Vamana grew in stature. With the first step he covered the sky and with the second step, he covered the earth. As one more step was remaining, Mahabali asked him to place the third step on him head. With the final step, Vamana sent the Mahabali to netherworld but he granted Mahabli’s one wish to visit the earth and meet his people once a year. Onam is celebrated on the day Mahabali returns to earth to meet his subject.
Festival: There are four main days of Onam and the most important is Thiru Onam. However, the celebration starts ten days prior to Thiru Onam and each day has its own significance. Houses, offices and shops are decorated with intricate flower arrangement called Pookalam. People buy new clothes, exchange gifts and visit temples. The ten days of celebration includes cultural activities like Atthachamayam, Pulikali, boat race, Kummati kali and tug of war.
The most important part of the celebration is the Sadya, the lunch on Thiru Onam. Around 26 dishes are prepared and served on a plantain leaf. Attending Onam Sadya is a great way to experience the culture of the state through its food. Many hotels in Kerala and outside the state host Onam feast.
2. Vishu
Vishu festival is the astrological New Year of Kerala celebrated in the month of April (first day of Malayalam month - Medam) is treated as good, lucky or fortunate day. There are many traditional vibrant rituals and customs performed by Keralites on Vishu day with fun, pleasure and happinessbut some of the major glimpse of Vishu festival are:Vishukani, Vishukaineetam and Vishu pulari.
“Vishu pulari” (dawn of Vishu day) is a ritual to wake up very early morning and go to puja room with the eyes closed so that the first thing a person looks is the divine darshan of God with Vishukani. This ritual is noted as “Kanikanal”. It is considered that at Vishu pulari (dawn of the prosperous Vishu day) one should watch the Vishukani have affluent, successful and peaceful year ahead.
“Vishukaineetam” is also a ritual in which head of the family or elder people distributed coin to children or younger or servants and other workers to wish them good fortune or luck. On this day some people provide Vishukaineetam as notes, on behalf of coins. It is really pleasant to watch each other how much each one has got a collection of Vishukaineetam amount.
Behind all these Vishu celebration is unfinished withou tcrackers and Vishu Sadya exists of vishu katta / vishu kanji prepared with rice, milk and coconut and other delicacies prepared with jack fruit, mango, kalan etc.
3.Thrissur Pooram
A resplendent festival celebrated with a grand display of caparisoned elephants, dazzling parasols, and percussion music, the Thrissur Pooram is a magnificent spectacle merging the spiritual and cultural essence of Kerala. Celebrated in the Malayalam month of medam (April-May), the pooram is held at the Thekkinkadu Maidanam in Thrissur.
Considered to be the mother of all poorams, this yearly temple festival was the brain child of Shakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Kochi, who organised the festival with the participation of 10 temples (Paramekkavu, Thiruvambadi Kanimangalam, Karamucku, Laloor, Choorakottukara, Panamukkampally, Ayyanthole, Chembukkavu, Neythilakavu).
Festival: The festival sports an enthralling line-up of vibrantly decked up elephants and is marked by the kudamattom ceremony. Involving swift and rhythmic changing of brightly coloured and sequined parasols, the kudamattom ceremony is one among the highlights and is a keenly watched event.
Another high point is the ilanjithara melam, a highly bewitching performance of traditional instruments which lifts the thousands gathered to a state of euphoria and bliss. Around 250 odd artistes participate in this traditional orchestra led by chenda artistes and the spirit is mirrored by the thousands of spectators who wave their hands in accordance to the rhythm generated by the chenda, kurumkuzhal, kombu and elathalam (traditional instruments of Kerala). The finale is marked by a grand fireworks show.
4. Kerala Boat Festivals
Nehru Boat Race- second Saturday of August, other boat races- between July and September
Nehru Boat Raceheld on the Punnamda Lake, near Alappuzha
The backwaters of Kerala is not only a major tourist attraction, it is also the venue for thrilling boat races. The magnificent boat race is held between July and September, when the backwaters are swelled by the rains. Kerala hosts several boat races but the most popular races are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race and Champakulam Moolam Boat Race.
This is the most important and fascinating part of the race is the snake boat, which is called Chundan Vallams. These magnificent boats are 100 t0 120-foot long canoes made of wood, which is locally called ‘Aanjili thadi’. The boat can carry about 100 rowers and when it moves through the dark backwaters, it looks like a snake. Chundan vallam is also said to be the ‘the biggest water vessel used for sports purpose’. Chundan vallams were originally war boats and the first Chundan Vallam was constructed in the 14 th century by King Devanarayana of Chembakassery.
Another important part of the race is the boat song, which is called Vanchipattu. Vanchipattu is a form of poetry in Malayalam language and it is recited during the boat race.
History: The most popular boat race,Nehru Trophy Boat Race, is associated with the visit of Jawaharlal Nehru, the former Prime Minister of India. He visited Alapphuzha in 1952. Nehru travelled to Alappuzha from Kottayam in a special boat. People of Alappuzha welcomed Nehru with a roaring cheer. The first boat race was conducted in honor of Nehru and it was an impromptu race. The race was thrilling and in the excitement Nehru jumped into the winning boat, Nadubhagam Chundan, which carried him to the boat jetty. After returning to Delhi, Nehru donated a Silver trophy for the winner of the boat race. The trophy was a replica of the snake boat on a wooden abacus with the following inscription: “To the winner of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin.” In the fond memory of the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the race is conducted every year.
The next famous boat race is the Champakulam Boat Race, which has an interesting history behind it. A temple was built by the King of Chempakasseri, Devanarayanan, at Ambalappuzha but later, he learnt that the idol of Krishna he was about to install was not auspicious. The king asked his ministers to bring the idol of Krishna from Karinkulam temple located in Kurichi. The ministers got the idol and on their way back stayed at Champakulam. The idol was kept in the home of a Christian family. The villagers organized a huge procession and lined up chundan vallam for the king and the idol. After reaching the destination, the idol was installed in Ambalappuzha temple. To commemorate the event, boat race is held every year.
Festival: Vallam Kali, which literally means boat game or boat race, is held during the monsoon season when the backwaters are full. The race is not just a test to the speed but also about skill and endurance. The participants practice for days to take part in the race. These boat races are a major crowd puller. The beautiful boats competing with each other are a marvelous sight.
The most important boat race is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, which is conducted in the Punnamada Lake located close to Alappuzha. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held every year on the second Saturday of August. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in the memory of the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Champakulam Boat Race is one of the oldest snake boat races in the world. During this boat festival, the village of Champakulam located in the district of Alappuzha comes alive with the arrival of different types of boats like kuthi, churulan, veppu and the majestic chundan. People flock to the banks of Pampa River to see these marvelous boats competing. The date for the Champakulam Boat Race is decided according to the Malayalam calendar. It usually falls between June and July.
5.Attukal Pongala
Attukal Pongala is the one of the most important festivals of Kerala. The festival is celebrated in the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, which is located in Attukal, Thiruvananthapuram. Women from across the state visit the temple and take part in Attukal Pongala festival. This festival brings together women from all religion and caste. The festival holds the Guinness Record for hosting the largest congregation of female annually. With every year, the number of women attending the Pongala festival rises dramatically. Only women are permitted to take part in the Pongala ritual.
The festival is celebrated for ten days and the most important day is the ninth day, when thousands of women from across the state visit the temple to pay their respect to the presiding deity. The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is dedicated to goddess Kannaki, a manifestation of goddess Parvathi.
Legend: According to a legend, Kannaki (goddess Parvathi) got married to the son of a merchant, Kovalan. Howeever, soon after the wedding he got besotted with a dancer called Madhavi. Kovalan completely forgot about his wife Kannaki and spent all his money of Madhavi. Later he realized his mistake and came back to Kannaki.They decided to sell a pair of anklet that belonged to Kannaki and was the only thing left to sell. They went to Madurai to sell the anklet. During that same time, the anklet of Madurai’s queen was stolen and her anklet was similar to Kannaki’s anklet. The King’s soldiers arrested Kovalan and beheaded him.
On hearing the news, Kannaki got infuriated and rushed to the palace to show the king the second pair of anklet. She broke her anklet, which contained rubies in it, where as the queen’s anklet had pearls. Kannaki cursed the Madurai and it came true.
Later, Kannaki was travelling to Kodungallur and she passed Attukal. She transformed herself to a little girl and asked an old man sitting near the banks of a river to help her cross the stream. He was surprised to find the small girl travelling alone, so he took her home. However, the little girl disappeared. She appeared in the man’s dream and asked him to construct a temple in his grove on the place where he will find three golden lines. It is believed that this is the location where the Attokal temple is standing today.
Festival: The celebration of Attukal Pongala festival starts with a musical rendition. Members of specific families perform the musical rendition. These families have been performing and narrating the story of goddess kannaki. The main feature of this performance is the when the singers sing about the annihilation of the King. The musical performance is held for nine days prior to the Pongala. Bhajans, classical music concerts and ballets are other highlights of the festival.
On the ninth day, women folks from across the state visit the temple to pay their respect to the goddess and participate in the Pongala festival. Dressed in their best, they cook the sweet dish, Pongala, using rice, jiggery, ghee, coconut and banana that they bring to the temple. The pongala is then offered to the deity of the temple. The festival is not just popular among the Hindus of the state but is attended by foreign women.
6.Ramdan Eid (Eid-ul-Fitr) and Bakri Eid (Eid-ul-Adhaa)
Ramdan and Bakrid are festivals of Muslims. The word ‘Eid’ is an Arabic name, which means celebration, festivity, a recurring happiness and a feast. There are two Eids namely the fest of Ramdhan and the feast of sacrifice.
The first Eid is celebrated as a matter of thanks and gratitude to Almighty Allah, after fasting the month of Ramdhan. It takes place on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of lunar calendar. Throughout the whole month of Ramdhan, Islam believers take fast during the day even without drinking water. They spend the whole month praying and reading their holy book ‘Quran’. Ladies prepare lots of different food items including snacks in the night to break the fast. On the day of Eid, people gather in the mosque and offer special prayers.
The second Eid is celebrated for the memory of prophet Ibrahim trying to sacrifice his son Ismail. It lasts four days between the tenth and the thirteenth day of twelfth month of lunar calendar called Zul-Hijjah. Muslims visit the mosque dressing up in new clothes and perform prayers for peace and prosperity of all. Wealthy families provide one animal for sacrifice, while the poor families contribute one animal to sacrifice jointly. Two thirds of the meat is distributed to the poor and the rest is consumed by the family.
6. Christmas
With Christians accounting for more than a quarter of the total population of Kerala, Christmas is one of the most popular festivals in Kerala. The celebration is a fusion of local, Western and Syrian tradition. Christmas is celebrated with great pomp in Kerala. People shop, prepare delicious dishes and decorate their homes. Christmas is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
History: Christianity reached India when St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, landed in Muziris, which is in the area of present day Kodungallur, in AD 52. It is said that few of the locals were converted to Christianity by him. Gradually, Christianity began to spread.
Festival: The celebration of Christams starts with making a crib for baby Jesus and decorating Christmas tree at home. The whole house is decorated with lights. Gifts are exchanged and traditional dishes are prepared. People also buy new clothes for Christmas. One of the important events of the day is attending Christmas mass. On this day, the church displays scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. Melodious Christmas carols and hymns add to the festive mood.
Children usually give hand-made cards to the elders of the family members, neighbors and friends. People attend midnight mass and greet everyone. After the midnight mass, eat plum cake with homemade wine.
Another fun part of the festival is Santa Claus. The carol groups that visit each home are accompanied by Santa. Santa Claus sings and dances with children and then distributes gifts.
Christmas in Kerala is incomplete without the plum cake. Every Christian family has their own version of plum cake and it is something you must not miss. To make plum cake, the fruits are soaked in wine for around 41 days! Apart from the cake people also make wine at home. Traditional dishes include Mutton or Chicken stews & Appams, Kappa biryani, Kappa stew, Neyyappam, Unniappam and Acchapam cookies. Recently, the people in Kerala have started making turkey for Christmas.
7. Makaravilakku Festival
A yearly festivity conducted at the holy place of Sabarimala Temple on 14th of January, Makaravilakku festival is one of the major festival held in the Sabarimala temple after Mandala Pooja. The name ?Makaravilakku? refers to the illumination of a vivid lamp (Vilakku), thrice atop the Ponnambalamedu (the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala temple) which were used to converse the conclusion of deeparadhana in ponnampalamedu. A predictable number of half million devotees attend Sabarimala annually to have the apparition (Darshan) of this ritualistic custom.
The Legend: According to legend, Lord Rama and his faithful brother Lakshmana met Sabari who was an ethnic aficionado at the Sabarimala temple. She presented the Rama with the fruits after she tasted them but the Lord accepted them willingly and loving heartedly. The Lord then turned and saw a heavenly person doing Tapas, he asked Sabari about that person and she said that it was Sasta. Lord advent towards Sasta and latter stood up to greet the Lord. Thus, the centenary of this occasion is celebrated on Makaravilakku day as it is believed that Lord Dharmasasta stops his tapas to sanctify all of his devotees.
Highlights: Thiruvabharanam which are the gratified ornaments of Ayyappan containing golden bracelets, diamond crown, sword and a necklace are presented by the Pandalam king arrives at the temple in three boxes, congregation at the hill holy place of Sabarimala and a pageant are the major parts of this festival. On arrival of the jewel boxes, the entire mountain echoes to the hymning of Saranam Ayyappa by millions and millions of devotees who are congregated there to observe the glorious and sacred spectacle.
The sacred ornament box which is still the assets of the royal family of Pandalam advents its journey two days before Makara Jyothi day from Pandalam. The person carrying it dances in a irregular daze and travel through Puthia Kavu temple, Valiakoikkal Sastha temple at Pandalam, Ayiroor Perunattil temple, Nilaikkal Siva temple, Vlakkai, Vellachimala, Pamba and Sabari Peedam before arriving at Sannidhanam approximately at 6: 00 p.m. on the day of Makara Jyothi.
Annually, a Garuda soars and dashes over the boxes so as to protect them from being lost which is a rare spectacle.
Festivity: On reaching the Sannidhanam the Thandhri and Melshanthi accepts the gratified ornaments amidst the roaring reverberation of the Sarana Ghosham. Then, the saint ornaments the Lord with all the precious and holy jewels and performs the aarati; and at the same time a glittering illuminated light of spontaneous glory appears in the Northeastern part of the temple at the differing mountain in Kantamala which is a place said to be the home of rishis and devas. It is supposed that the sparkling flame of the light is the aarati executed by devas and the rishis.
This is the event that symbolizes the conclusion of the pilgrimage to Sabarimala Temple.
After the illumination of light (Makara Jyothi),on the same night Malikappurathuamma accumulated in an elephant attends in a parade to the 18 steps (Patinettampadi) and later back return back to her dwelling. This marks the beginning of the festival which lasts for seven days. Large number of devotees stays till the end of the festival and offering of chunnambu mixed with water and turmeric powder to the forest deities which is known as Kuruthy Pooja is conducted. Some of the devotees who leave the temple after observing the Jyothi fasts till the conclusion of the Makara Vilakku and Kuruthy Pooja.
