Festival of Kerala

The important Festivals of Kerala and brief information about them is given here:

Onam

Onam is about the sweet memories of distant past when Mahabali, a celebrated emperor of the Asuras, was supposed to rule over Kerala. His period is believed as the golden age in the history of the country. When Mahabali (Mavely) ruled, all men were equal, they were leading a life of happiness and nobody had any calamity-thus goes the song. But the Devas got annoyed and complained to Lord Vishnu and he reincarnated as Vamana, the dwarf. He approached Mahabali and begged for three feet of land. Mahabali immediately granted Vamanaâs wish. Suddenly, the dwarf sized Vamana grew into the skies and with one step covered the earth and with another step the heavens. With no place to keep the third step, Mahabali offered his head, which was pushed by Vamana into the netherworld or pathalam. But before sending Mahabali to the netherworld, Lord Vishnu gave Mahabali the boon that he can visit his subjects once in a year. The day Mahabali visits his subjects is celebrated as Onam. The time for his annual visit was in the first Malayalam month Chingom (August-September) and this occasion became one of Jubilation throughout the land, reminiscent of the prosperous times of Mahabali as Onam.

• Onam has for last several centuries been a grand national harvest festival in which all sections of the people participate with extreme Jubilation. The festival is supposed to begin from the lunar asterism Atham which falls ten days before the asterism Thiruvonam.
• The preparations for the celebration begin on the Atham day. The Thiruvonam is the most important day of the festival. In the front yard of the house Athapoovu (floral decoration) is made for ten days from Atham to a Thiruvonam.Presents are distributed to the younger members of the family.
• Then follows the onam feast of delicious food served on plantain leaves. Members of families, staying far away from native places make it a point to visit their ancestral homes to celebrate the festival in the company of their kith and kin. Keralites celebrate onam by organising community feast, cultural programmes, etc. After the feast there will be sports and games, both indoor and outdoor, in which both men and women of all ages participate.

Vishu

After Onam, Vishu is the most important festival of Kerala, celebrated as the Malayalam New Year day. It is a common belief that the first thing that one sees on waking up on Vishu day (‘Vishukkani’) is indicative of the fortune of the coming year. At the dawn, the Malayali’s begin the first day of the Year by waking up in front of Kani (Kani Kanal), which is bedecked with gold ornaments, white clothes, pots filled up with rice or paddy, bell metal mirror, Konna flowers, halved jack fruits, halved coconuts and yellow cucumber. Behind the pot a garlanded deity of Lord Krishna is kept illuminated by two standing oil lamps. The mosy uncanny part is that Iyers will mot see anything, but a Kani and even children are brought blind folded from their beds to where the Kani is kept.

Thiruvathira

The Thiruvathira festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). The Ardra Darshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu corresponds to Thiruvathira of Kerala. It is considered to be high auspicious to worship Siva and the devotees go to the temple before sunrise for ‘darshan’. Tradition has it that Thiruvathira festival is celebrated in commemoration of the death of Kamadeva, the mythological God of love.

Thiruvatira is a women’s festival, celebrated widely in Kerala in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. The festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the cupid of Hindu mythology. The aim of the celebration is conjugal harmony and happiness, with the women adorned in colourful sarees, wearing white, black or red marks, lower down the middle of their foreheads close to the part where the two eyebrows embrace one another and chewing betel leaves, thus reddening their mouth and lips. Enjoy festive tours fo Kerala to be a part of the festive celebrations.

Karthigai

Karthigai is a light festival celebrated in Malayali houses. The village temple arranges for a bonfire of useless materials and every family takes a burning torch made of palm leaves (Chootu) from this fire to the house. Oil lights are lit in houses and the whole town radiates like a spinning nebula on the face of a black sky, an awesome sight to behold. The place is ready to hold some of the most famous events in Kerala.

Sabarimala Temple Festival

Sabarimala Temple Festival is held at the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The most vital day of this festival is the Makkara Vilakku day. It is believed that on that day a light on a neighbouring hill confirms the arrival of the deity. Among temple festivals, Thrissur Pooram, held at Thrissur, is the most famous. Dance, merriment, playing with fireworks – all heightens the momentum of the festival to a great extent. Another significant festival of Kerala is Vishu festival, which is celebrated in April-May when the rains are about to commence. This festival has several rituals associated with it such as Thrissur pooram. According to the Malayalam tradition the morning of this day is considered to be very propitious, as it is believed that prosperity prevails throughout the year if one views good things at that particular hour. A great feast at home is the high point of celebrating this festival at home. Gifts are also exchanged.

Bharani – Kodungallur

Bharani festival dedicated to goddess Kali is celebrated at Sree Kurumba Bhagirathi Temple located at Kodungallur, Trichur district, one of the grandest and ancient temples in Kerala. It is also one of the first temples in Kerala which removed the restrictions of caste and religion, and permitted devotees belonging to lower strata of the caste hierarchy entry to the temple premises, when other temples barred their entry round the year. The festival Bharani comes in the Malayalam month Meenam which corresponds to March-April. Bharani is the second asterism of the lunar month and that is the most important day of the festival. The festival observed in goddess Bhadrakali’s honour is mostly celebrated by the low-caste Avarnas, to celebrate the goddess’s victory over the demon Daarika. A large congregation of Velichappad (oracles), both men and women come to participate in this peculiar festival.

Guvayooor Ekadeshi

Guruvayoor is a village near Chavakkad, about 35 km from Trichur. There is an important temple located there dedicated to Krishna – Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple which is held in great reverence and resorted to largely by the Hindus throughout Malabar, Cochin and Travancore. Those who are ill, especially rheumatic patients make vows to make offerings in this temple. The festival of Ekadesi is celebrated here in the Malayalam month of ‘Vrischikam’. Besides the devotees, there are those who come to take part in the annual fair. Merchants erect booths in front and behind the temple and carry on trade in various articles. The celebration with in the temple consists of Pujas and processions.

Swathi Sangeethotsavam

Swathi Sangeetholsavam, a week long music festival, is held annually from January 6 to 12 at the ‘Kuthira Malika’ palace complex at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The Sangeetholsavam is held in tribute to Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, who ruled the state of Travancore from 1813- 1846 and was a patron of arts and a musician himself. The festival is held at the front courtyard of the majestic Kuthiramalika palace, built by Swati Thirunal is organised by H.H.Sir Rama Varma Maharaja of Travancore Trust. The festival features renditions by both Carnatic and Hindustani musicians including compositions of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma.

Vetta & Arattu

This festival is celebrated twice in a year, once in Oct.-Nov. and other in March-April. Vetta represents Lord Vishnu hunting down the demon of evil in the forest. Late afternoon in the next day the Arattu procession begins. Images of Lord Padmanabha, Lord Krishna and Lord Narasimha are carried to the Arabian Sea at Sangumugham beach (Thiruvananthapuram), escorted by the members of the Royal Family. At sunset the images are ritually bathed in the sea. Returning the images in a procession back to the Padmanabhaswamy temple concludes the event. Several cultural programs including all-night Kathakali are performed during the festival.

Thrissur Pooram

Trissur Pooram, Trissur Thrissur Pooram is the most colourful temple festival of Kerala. The festival attracts large masses of devotees and tourists from all parts of Kerala. Celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medom (April-May) caparisoned elephant processions from neighbouring Krishna and Devi temples precede to the Vadakunathan Temple. Saktan Tampuran, the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Kochi introduced this festival. Though held in the premises of Vadakkunathan temple, Vadakkunathan is a mere spectator of the event. The best of the elephants will be displayed with panchavadyam (music by five percussion and wind musical instruments) followed by magnificent display of fireworks.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Kerala is the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race that began in 1952 when the erstwhile Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Alappuzha. The race is held every year on the second Saturday of August. Many gigantic snake boats with 100 rowers in each representing different villages take part in the race. Another Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in mid-January to promote tourism.