Kerala Festivals and Events Schedule

 Festival Name Places Held20092010 » Kakkur - Bullock Cart Race (Thirmarady – Cochin)-19-23 Feb » Koodalmanikyam Temple Festival (Irinjalakuda/Trichur)-25th April » Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Snake boat race – Alleppey)08th Aug14th Aug » Payippattu Boat Race (Boat Race in Alleppey)-25th Aug » Kottapuram Boat Race (Kottapuram – 35kms off Cochin)-29th Aug » Aluva Manappuram Shivarathri (Aluva – Cochin)-12th Feb » Ernakulam Shiva Temple Fest (Cochin)1st Jan21st Jan » St. Thomas Church, Malayattoor (Kerala)-11th April » Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple (Kottayam – Kerala)-22nd Feb » Attukal Devi Temple Ponkalam Fest (Trivandrum – Kerala)-1st Mar » Onam Fest Celebrations (for Entire Kerala)2Sept » Chambakulam Moolam Boat Race (Alleppey)-26th July » Trichur Pooram /Thrissur Pooram (Trichur – Kerala)-24th April » Azheekkal Temple Festival (Cherai-Cochin)24th-31st Dec15th-22nd Dec

Kakkur - Bullock Cart Race (Thirmarady – Cochin)

Kakkoor is a village which is 2km away from Thirumarady. "Kakkoor Kalavayal" is a key event in the tourism map of Kerala. This is a post-harvest festival celebrated by the farmers of Kakkoor and surrounding villages. The main highlight of this festival is the Cattle Market which is the literal meaning of “Kalavayal’.

Koodalmanikyam Temple Festival (Irinjalakuda/Trichur)
The annual 11 days Arattu festival of Koodalmanikyam Temple starts with flag hosting on 5th May 2009 (22nd Medam 1184 according to Malayalam Calendar). Koodalmanikyam Temple is renowned as the only temple in India dedicated to Lord Rama’s brother Lord Bharata. Seventeen caparisoned elephants takes part on the procession accompanied with Panchavadyam & Panchari Melam is a major attraction of Koodalmanikyam Festival. One unique feature of the Seeveli is that two baby elephants are included in the procession, one standing on each side of the main elephant carrying the deity.

Some of the major performing art forms are conducted during the festival include Chakyar Koothu, Ottamthullal, Sheethangan Thullal, Kurathiyattam, and Nangiar Koothu. Thayambaka, Maddalam, and Nadaswaram performance adds beauty to the festival. Another major attraction is the Kathakali performance (the Classical Dance-Drama of Kerala) .

Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Snake boat race – Alleppey)
Nehru Trophy Boat Race on the Punnamda Lake, Alappuzha, is held on the second Saturday of August every year & is the most competitive and popular of the boat races in the World. On the day of this fiercely fought boat race, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two lakh people, including tourists from abroad, coming to watch the event. For the people of each village in Kuttanad, a victory at this race for their village boat is something to be celebrated for months to come. The major attraction of the boat race is the competition of snake boats “Chundanvallams” or so called the “Snake Boats”. Snake boats are an impressive sight, measuring over 100 feet in length, with a raised prow. The race course having a length of about 1400 meters is divided into various tracks for conducting the competition. When participants (approx 111 people per snake boat) advance through various tracks, it appears like the fast moving long snakes.

The oarsmen splash the oars in unison with the rhythmic chants and beats of drums. The movements of competing boats are so thrilling that the spectators get a tune with the excited mood of the surrounding uproars. The loud singing of the boat songs by groups of people each knowing his part perfectly, joining in just at the proper moment, without hitch, provides delight and encouragement to the rowers and the lookers on. The best known VANCHIPATTU (Boat song) a Classic in Malayalam literature so full of Iyrical charms and high poetry is an added attraction to this race.

Payippattu Boat Race (Boat Race in Alleppey)
The three day annual fiesta on the Payippad Lake, 35 km from Alappuzha, commemorates the installation of the deity at the Subramanya Swamy Temple, Haripad. The story is that the people of the village decided to build a temple with Sree Ayyappa as the presiding deity. After the temple was ready, they had a vision directing them to a whirlpool in Kayamkulam Lake where they would find the idol of Sree Subramanya, which was to be installed at the temple. Accordingly, the elders of the village with divers and swimmers rowed to the spot and found the idol, which was escorted, back ceremoniously by devotees from the entire region in colourfully.

Kottapuram Boat Race (Kottapuram – 35kms off Cochin)
Another, unparalleled attraction of God's Own Country. Another great event as important as the land’s ethos as the elephant pageant. A sport that signifies the excellent team spirit, integration and amity of the people of this backwater country. An occasions of great excitement that is a reflection of a vibrant people. Kottapuram boat race attracts lot of tourist both domestic as well as international. The country boat race from the local clubs is very special activity/attraction.

Aluva Manappuram Shivarathri (Aluva – Cochin)
Aluva Manappuram at Alwaye on the banks of the Periyar incite a very nostalgic theme in the minds of people from Kerala. Its is very popular since ages. It is believed that Shivarathri is celebrated in the remembrance of Lord Shiva who consumed the deadly Kalakoodam poison to save the world is the theme of the festivities. Special Poojas, prayers and offerings along with many cultural programs are held during the week long festival. The main ritual is the "Pitrutarppanam" - Performing libation of water to dead ancestors. This festival is recommended as a must see festivals of Kerala. Cultural programs and festivities, the real indian color & crowd make it a very special occasion for the foreign tourist & assures a memorable visit.

Ernakulam Shiva Temple Fest (Cochin)
The annual festival usually falls during January/February ( corresponding to Makaram month ) and is spread over 8 days. The Festival starts with Kodiyettam( hoisting of the temple flag ) on the first day evening. On the seventh day there is Pakalpooram, when the deity is being taken out in procession with caparisoned elephants with Panchavadyam and finally terminating at Durbar Hall Ground after the famous Pandimelam and colourful fire works. On the final day around evening, in a solemn ceremony the flag is lowered and the deity is then taken for the Arattu ( holy bath ) in the nearby temple tank. After that starts the famous Arattu procession with the accompaniment of Panchavadyam. The procession terminates at Durbar Hall Ground. The grand fireworks then bring the curtain down to this weeklong festival. During all these days Sheeveli is arranged inside the temple and the best available Chendamelam artists are arranged for this.

Special poojas connected with this festival are conducted everyday by famous priests from Chennose and Puliyannur Mana. A variety of cultural programmes are also arranged during these days. Special emphasis is given to promote temple arts like Ottanthuallal, Paatakam, Thayambaka, Kathakali, Classical dances, Classical music concerts, Bhajans etc. Annadanam is also arranged. Thousands of people throng the temple for witnessing these programmes. Watching the Pakalpooram and Arattu processions will be an unforgettable experience for anybody. The adjacent Durbar Hall ground becomes a beehive of activities during the Uthsavom. Various stalls are set up here selling consumer items. Some companies use this festival week to introduce or market their products

St. Thomas Church, Malayattoor (Kerala)

Climbing the Hill to the Sacred Golden Cross of St. Thomas

Malayattoor is a village in the North Eastern corner of Ernakulam District in the stae of Kerala in South India. The name ‘Malayattoor’ is an amalgamation of three small words. Mala (Mountain) Arr (River) Oore (Place). This is to say, Malayattoor is a meeting place of mountain, river, and land. As reparation for their sins pilgrims climb the hill with prayers on their lips. To climb the hill is not an easy task. It is 1269 ft. high from the sea leavel. The climbing is done as a vow. They come after fasting and penance. As a part of their pilgrimage there are various rituals that a pilgrim can attend. Difference of religion, caste and creed are not a bar when they come to the rituals. This center is noted for inter-religious harmony and ecumenism.

The Feast at Kurisumudy is very famous. It is held on the first Sunday after Easter and the Octave on the following Sunday. People visit this pilgrim centre all through the year but they come in large groups during Lenten season. The number of pilgrims goes up during the holy week especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple (Kottayam – Kerala)
Situated from close promixity to Kottayam, It is one of the famous god Siva temples of south India & is the only temple in the world which has “EZHARAPONNANA” statue (ie...staue of 7 large size and one small size elephant made of gold). It is open to public for viewing on the 8th and 10th Day of the Annual festival. The present temple building, with its gopuram and the fortress around it, was reconstructed in 717 ME (1542 AD). There are Dravidian mural paintings on the walls inside and outside of the main entrance. The fresco of Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) is one of the finest Wall painting in India. There is a golden flag staff inside the temple. On the top of it is the idol of a bull surrounded by small bells and metal leaves of the banyan tree. The temple roofs are covered with copper sheets and it has 14 ornamental tops.

The “Thulabharam” is one of the important rituals of this temple. People make offerings to God for favours received. On balance, the child or man for whom offerings were promised to God, is weighed against offerings ranging from gold to fruits.

Attukal Devi Temple Ponkalam Fest (Trivandrum – Kerala)
ATTUKALAMMA is considered as the incarnation of 'Kannaki', the heroine of 'Silappathikaram' by Tamil Poet Illango in 2nd century A.D and Attukal is one of the places where Kannaki took rest on her journey northward from Madurai to Kodungallur. Attukal Pongala is very famously & is exclusively confined to women folk, celebrated in the ancient Bhagavathy temple at Attukal in Trivandrum. The ten-day-long temple festival held in the month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March). Nineth day is the most important day of the festival when the famous Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam takes place. “Pongala” - is porridge of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. The entire area of about 5 kilometre radius around temple with premises of houses of people of all caste, creed and religion, open fields, roads, commercial institutions, premises of Government offices etc. emerges as a consecrated ground for observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside. The ritual of cooking starts very early in the morning and by noon, Pongala would be ready. Then the chief priest blesses the devotees by sprinkling holy water and showering flowers and then the pongala is taken back to the houses by the women.

Onam Fest Celebrations (for Entire Kerala)
Onam is an annual harvest festival, celebrated mainly in Kerala. Ranging from four days to ten days, all the activities during this season are centered around worshipping, music, dances, sports including boat races, spectacular parades of caparisoned elephants, fireworks and the famous Kathakali dance. Onam has two specific significance. First it is the communal memory and celebration of past history as enunciated in the Mahabali Legend. A story of how paradise was lost. Second it is the celebration of the harvest tied with the memory of the golden age of prosperity. Apart from being a festival, it is celebrated with traditional fervor with visit to temples, family get-togethers, gifting each other with new clothes(Onakodi) and so on.. All this makes Onam time a perfect period to visit this coastal state of Kerala, so called "Gods Own Country". The Government of Kerala has declared this period/time every year as Tourism Week.

Chambakulam Moolam Boat Race (Alleppey) – Date:26th July 2010
Champakulam Boat Race is held every year at the Champakulam Lake in Alleppey. This is the first boat race of the harvest season of the state. It is the most popular and oldest snake boat race of Kerala. This race is associated with a legend. On the advice of a royal priest, Maharaja Devanarayana of Chempakasseri built a temple at Ambalappuzha (near Alleppey). But, just prior to the installation of the deity, the king came to know that the idol was inauspicious. The ministers of the king told a solution to the problem. They suggested to bring the idol of Shree Krishna, presented to Arjuna by the Lord Krishna himself, from the Karikulam temple of Kurichi. The ministers went to the place to bring the idol. While returning from the temple they spent a night at Champakulam to perform a puja. From there, boats of the entire area accompanied the idol in colorful, ceremonial procession through the lake to the temple.


Celebrating that moment, the whole procession is enacted every year with the same enthusiasm. A line of boats with colourful parasols and performing artists delights the spectators before the boat Race. After this regular ritual, a proper race is organized.

Trichur Pooram /Thrissur Pooram (Trichur – Kerala)
Trichur Pooram, is one of the most spectacular festival of this cultural capital celebrated at Vadakkumnathan Temple every year during April-May. Though non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, Kerala’s grandest temple pageantry, which includes colorful processions of caparisoned elephants and a midnight fireworks display, parasol exchanges, drum concerts can be witnessed. The Pooram programmes extending about 36 hours begins with the ezhunellippu of the Kanimangalam Shasta in the morning followed by the ezhunnellippu of the other six minor temples on the Pooram Day. A major event of the Pooram festival is the Panchavadyam in which about 200 artistes from the disciplines of Thimila, Maddalam, Trumpet, Cymbal and Edakka participate. Another major event of the pooram begins with the setting off of the ‘Pandemelam’ at noon in which about 200 artistes in the disciplines of drum, trumpets, pipe and cymbal participate. The grand finale of this festival of colour, music and fire works would be marked with a function of bidding farewell to the deities of the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams in front of the Western Gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Azheekkal Temple Festival (Cherai-Cochin)
Established in 1565AD, it is believed to be one of the first temples in Travancore –Cochin area. Located at an hours driving time and close to the famous Cherai beach, the Annual festival in here is very very famous and attracts a large crowd of tourist from all over the country. The temple has a large open ground in the front, and typical of major temples of Kerala like Trichur, Ettumanoor and Kottayam. The temple has a covered Seevelipura (a roofed pathway) around the nalambalam. Such a structure is not seen in other temples regularily. Lord is taken around the temple along the Seevelipura. The devotees also can go around even during the rainy days. The Dwaja with decorated roof (dwaja mandapam) with wood carvings is a unique feature of this temple. The Dwaja was constructed in 1900 AD. The famous Ratha or Vimana was dedicated to the presiding deities in 1909 AD. This is the only chariot in the world, which runs on rails. The temple has a Ratha Veethi to pull the chariot around the temple on fesivals by the devotees. The Rathaveethi (rail) is outside the main gopuran & was constructed under the supervision of European Engineers in 1908 AD.