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Vibrant & packed with centuries of unbroken traditions,
the festivals of Kerala seldom stray far from the realm of magic. Most of the festivals are
connected with temples, churches or mosques with a religious flavor. Onam is the national festival of
Kerala.
Important fairs & festivals celebrated in Kerala are
given below :
MAKARAVILAKU
Festival in the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, where
thousands of pilgrims from all over India visits. This is one of the greatest religious festival of Hindus.
THE GREAT ELEPHANT MARCH
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It is a major Tourist attraction that brings the visitors
from all over. This will be held in between 9th to 12th January every year. Caparisoned
tuskers, booming drums, a riot of colors , elephant rides are most astonishing scenes a Tourist can explore. |
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TRICHUR POORAM
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Thirty caparisoned elephants decorated with gold ornaments
each ridden by three Brahmins holding objects symbolizing royalty including colorful umbrellas create a
spectacular sight - especially when accompanied by chenda melam, the quaint essential Kerala music. |
The main
attraction of the festival is the changing of vibrant, colorful umbrellas by two groups with entirely
different types. Lakhs of people throng to watch the Trichur Pooram. This festival is held in between
April/May every year.
KERALA VILLAGE FAIR
In a hamlet near the enchanting beach resort of Kovalam, an
entire ancient Kerala is recreated. Replete with traditional houses, dress, food, crafts and so on. Its a fair
for almost ten days.
ONAM
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The biggest & most important festival. A harvest festival
celebrated throughout Kerala for four days. According to legend, it is on the first day that the good Asura
king Mahabali who once ruled Kerala, comes from exile to visit the beloved people. |
Homes are adorned with
floral decoration in preparation for his visit. Onam tourist week is a cultural feast of art and folk
presentation at 20 venues in Trivandrum and other major districts. The festival is marked with elephant
processions, kathakali dances, fire works, water carnivals & vallamkali. Special feast prepared for Onam
are not to be missed.
NISHAGANDHI DANCE FESTIVAL
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A week long celebration of the best in Indian dance and
music. India's leading exponents of almost all classical dance form including Bharathanatyam, Odissi,
Mohiniyattom and kathak performs |
at the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium at Trivandrum. A grand treat for
lovers of dance. This festival is held on 21st to 27th February every year.
NAVARATHRI
A nine day festival of the goddess of knowledge and music, a
musical concert is held every evening for nine days at the Navarathri mandapam of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy
temple in Trivandrum. This festival is held on Oct/Nov every year.
FLAVOR FESTIVAL
The national food festival, Flavor held in Trivandrum is a
rare opportunity to taste the traditional, authentic cuisines of Kerala & India. Participated by all
reputed hotels, it happens on 5th to 11th April every year.
SNAKE BOAT RACE
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Chundan vallamkali at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta Dist on the
last day of the Onam celebrations at the auspicious day of Uthrittathy is the most popular annual aquatic
festival in the river Pamba |
in front of the ancient Krishna temple at Aranmula in connection with the
installation of Parthasarathi (Lord Vishnu). Almost all the villages on the river side Pamba have their own
snake boat known mostly by the village names and are used mainly during the Onam celebration for inter-village
boat race competition which inturn foster communal harmony and cultural integration.
TOURISM WEEK CELEBRATION
This is a celebration at Cochin in the last week of December. Food festival, Gaja mela (elephant pageantry), Martial
arts, Kathakali, Mohiniyattom and other dances and also Indira Gandhi Boat Race.
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