Uthralikavu Pooram

Another illustrious temple festival of south India is Uthralikavu Pooram celebrated in Sree Ruthira Mahakalikavu Temple, Parithipra, in Vadakkancherry, Thrissur District of north Kerala. The temple is dedicated to the mighty Goddess Kali.

 The festival is held annually in the Malayalam month 'Kumbham' or February/March. The festivity continues for eight days.

The elephant processions in the gala are the main highlight all through day and night. Pooram day is celebrated on eighth and last day; procession of twenty one elephants caparisoned with beautiful ornaments along with Panchvadyam and Pandimelam is overwhelming.

These traditionally decorated elephants line up in the ground with mahouts sitting atop them and hold colourful parasols and swaying venchamarams (white tufts) and Aalavattams (peacock feather fans).

The cultural fare during the festival includes temple and folk art performances which provide magical spectacles to the viewers. The colorful events along with rituals and folk art performances in the evenings cast a spell to everyone. The glow of the traditional temple torches called Theevatti provides startling view. The festivities end with the spectacular all-night pooram pageant on the last day, the highlight of the festival. The pageant and festivities lasts until dawn and draws to a close with brilliant fireworks.

Time to celebrate

The festival is held annually in the Malayalam month 'Kumbham' or February/March. The festivity continues for eight days.

Event Date: 02 Mar 2010

Getting there

Parithipra is just 2 km from Vadakkancherry on the way to Shornur.

Nearest railway station: Vadakkancherry.

Nearest airport: Kochi international airport, about 52 km from Thrissur town.

Vishu

Like most parts of India, festivals in Kerala are an integral part of the social and cultural structure of the state and festival time is the best time to plan one's travel to Kerala. In Kerala, every community, every religion has something to celebrate about all through out the year.

Vishu is one of the important festivals of Kerala. It comes in the month of April usually on the 14th. According to the traditional Malayalam calendar, it is the 1st day of the first month Medam of the New Year. Traditional rituals are followed to bring in another year of prosperity.

Vishu is one of the most popular festivals of Kerala. Vishu falls on the first of Medam (March-April), which is the Malayalam 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. The heart of this festival of Kerala is the preparation of the kani (the lucky sight or gift).

The custom of preparing the kani has been followed for generations. The women take a large dish made of bell-metal (uruli), arrange in it a grantha (palm-leaf manuscript), a gold ornament, a new cloth, some flowers from the Konna Tree (Cassia fistula), some coins in a silver cup, a split coconut, a cucumber, some mangoes and a jack-fruit. On either side of the dish are placed two burning lamps with a chair facing it. Family members are taken blindfolded and then their blindfolds are removed and they view the Vishu Kani. As in other Indian festivals, a great feast at home is the high point of celebrating Vishu in Kerala.

  

Attuvela Mahotsavam

The Attuvela Mahotsavam is a grandiose water carnival as opposed to many of usual temple festivals celebrated in God’s own country, Kerala where elephants play an important role and is a centre of attraction.

The festival is continued for two days. The Attuvela Mahotsavam is associated with the Elankavu Bhagavathy temple, sited at Vadayar village 3 kilometers far from Vaikom, of Kottayam district in Kerala. Goddess Bhagavathy is installed and worshipped in this temple. The festival is celebrated in ‘Meenam’ month of Malyalam calendar which corresponds to March-April of Gregorian calendar.

The Goddess of Elamkavu is believed to be the sister of Kodungallur Bhagavathy. According to the legend associated with the festival that this day celebrates the welcome ceremony for the Kodungallur Bhagavathy to Elankavu who came to visit the goddess here.

Elamkavu Bhagavathy temple is a visual treat to the eyes of the visitors during festival time. A procession of devotees carrying beautifully decorated and warmly lit canoes, and huge colourful replica of the Elankavu temple navigate down the river Moovattupuzha waters. 

In addition, the procession is also accompanied by hordes of festooned small canoes and traditional temple music. This water procession starts from the Attuvela kadavu, 2 kilometers away from the temple.

Getting there:

Vaikom is between Ernakulam (30 km) and Kottayam (40 km).

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Ernakulam which is about 30 km away from Vaikom.

By Air

The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is about 50 km away.

Time to celebrate

The festival is celebrated in ‘Meenam’ month of Malyalam calendar which corresponds to March-April of Gregorian calendar. In 2010 the festival will fall on 19 March.

Perumithitta Tharavad Kottamkuzhy

Perumithitta Tharavad is an extremely popular traditional festival celebrated in the state of Kerala. The festival is held in Kottamkuzhy, Kasaragod District of Kerala. In popularity the festival is rated very high as large number of tourists and visitors gather here during the festival.

The main attraction at the festival celebrations includes Grand performances of different variety of Theyyam Dances.

Theyyam dance is not a single dance form rather a collection of about 400 dance forms each representing a mythological, historical character.

Varieties of theyyams are presented at the festival like Elayor theyyam, Chamundi theyyam, Panchoorla theyyam, Muthor theyyam etc.

Theyyam is not only high on entertainment value but also has great religious significance. Throughout the festival a number of rituals are performed according to the traditions of the state.

These dances are among the oldest forms of art in India.The dance carnival held at Kottamkuzhy is truly a visual treat for all the onlookers who gather here from across the country.

The dance presentations include colorful costumes, body painting, and trance-like performances. These performances are accompanied with splendid ancient shrines and temples contributing to the atmosphere.

The festival is generally lasts for ten days spreading across December-January.

How to Recah?

Nearest railway station: Kasaragod, about 26 km away.
Nearest airport: Mangalore, about 50 km away.

Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam

Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam is an extremely popular grand Dance Festival held in the state of Kerala. It is also termed as a “Theyyam Festival” as Theyyam refers to a traditional ritual dance form of Kerala. The Theyyam dance form is one of the oldest art forms of India.

Theyyam dances are performed generally by men in Kerala. These dance performances are extended across a number of days illuminating the New Year’s Eve.

Theyyam is not a single dance form it is a culmination and collection of about 400 types of dances. Each of these 400 dance forms represents a mythological, divine or heroic character.

During the Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam Festival a variety of Theyyams are presented including Chamundi theyyam, Vishnumoorthy theyyam and many more.

Ancestral spirits and historical characters are worshipped during this festive celebration.

The dance carnival held at the Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam is truly a visual treat for all the onlookers who gather here from across the country. The dance presentations include colorful costumes, body painting, and trance-like performances. These performances are accompanied with splendid ancient shrines and temples contributing to the atmosphere.

Although each dance form denotes a deity, a mythological figure who is worshipped through the dance performance, even the individual dance performer is treated like a deity.

How to Reach?

Nearest railway station: Kasaragod, about 20 km away. Nearest airport: Mangalore about 50 km away.

ARANMULA UTHRITTATHI

For ages, Keralites have cherished a reverential attitude to rivers. When the weather becomes delightfully pleasant and the nature exults in her full glory, it is the apt time for Keralites to hold the Jalotsavam (water - carnivals). Boat race is in a way a display of physical might of the people who forget their differences in partaking in this sport. In that respect, the boat race is symbolic of the Jalotsavams in Kerala. The most famous is the Aranmula Snake Boat Race conducted on the Uthrittathi day of Chingom (August-September). On Thiruvonam day in Chingom when the national festival of Onam begins in Kerala, Aranmula, a village in Chengannur taluk, is unusually cheerful and gay. 

The famous snake boat carnival on the Pampa held annually at Aranmula on the day of Uthrittathi asterism in connection with the Onam festival is to commemorate the crossing of the river by Lord Krishna on that day. The deity is supposed to be in all the boats that take part in the carnival and all of them are expected to arrive at their destination simultaneously. There is thus no element of competition in the Aranmula Boat Race as in other regattas held in this district and elsewhere. 

The race is not conducted to win any trophy or prize. The crew regard the occasion as one for rejoicing and merry-making and cheerfully row up and down the river to the tune of songs. Even though the festival is of Hindu origin and is associated with the Parthasarathy Temple, it is an all-community affair and participants include members of all classes and communities living in and around Aranmula. The festival is now being organised under the auspices of the Palli Oda Seva Sangham, a popular organisation of the boat owners.

It constitutes a national festival for the people of Central Travancore and special boats and buses ply to carry the people to witness the event. During the races, the banks of the river on either side, for a distance of about three kilometeres, would be thronged with millions. In recent years, the festival attracts spectators from all parts of the country and even from abroad. The Valla sadya is an important vazhipadu (offering) in the temple on this occasion.

The snake boats at the Aranmula regatta present an enchanting as well as imposing spectacle. They are of extraordinary shape. About 100 ft. long, the end of the boat is curving upwards with the front portion tapering gradually. The rear portion would be towering to a height of about 20 feet. The boats resemble snakes with their hoods raised. A 150 - crew including oarsmen, singers and ruddermen man each boat which is gaily decorated for the occasion. The occupants carry banners and ornamental umbrellas of silk and gold. It is doubtful whether there is any other national festival resplendent with such an aura of spiritual devotion, endearing friendship, sportsman spirit, majesty and rapturous delight as the Aranmula boat race. Similar Snake-boat races are organised at Champakkulam and Paippadu in Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, during the Onam days.

 

Manarcad Perunnal

Manarcad Perunnal is the occasion celebrating the annualChristian community of Kerala. Manarcad Perunnal also known as Ettunombu Perunnal literally means eight day prayer and fasting. The venue for this feast is St. Mary's Church at Manarcad. The festival is celebrated every year from 1st to 8th September in Kerela.

During the festival devotees generally fast and stay at the church from morning till night. The last three days of the festival are marked by colorful processions carrying golden crosses and thousands of devotees accompany this with colorful embellished umbrellas. These three days observe the festive spirit at its peak, with thousands of devotees and local people gathering and participating in the processions. feast by the

As an offering to the Lord Muthukkuda are offered which are decked parasols. The church has a golden cross and a holy tank which are especially taken care of by the devotees during the auspicious festival of Manarcad Perunnal.

These eight days of festive celebrations are full of ardent devotion and grandeur in celebrations.

How to Reach Manarcad:

By Air:     Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 km from Kottayam.

By Rail:   Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 10 km away.

By Road:  Manarcad is just 10 kilometres drive from Kottayam town.

Time of Manarcad Perunnal Festival Celebration:

In Kerela most of the festival dates are decided according to the Malayalam Calendar. Local practices also influence the dates of some traditional, customary and auspicious events. The festival or feast of Manarcad Perunnal is celebrated from 1st to 8th September every year.

Neelamperoor Pooram Patayani

 The grand Patayani Festival is celebrated on the Pooram day in the Malayalam month of Chingam. The festival is mainly celebrated in the state of Kerela, where the the Palli Bhagavathy temple in the beautiful village Neelamperoor in Alappuzha, is beautifully decorated for the festive celebrations.

As the festival of Neelamperoor pooram Patayani is celebrated in the month of Onam, it adds an exponential scale of glitter and glory to the celebrations. The festival is very popular among the localites here.

Although the festival of Patayani is celebrated all across Kerela, yet the festive celebrations of Neelamperoor is quite different and elaborate compared to other parts. What makes the festival special in Neelamperoor is the grand procession carrying effigies of mythological characters. These effigies are prepared at local level by the artists of the state, who engage in these preparations months before the festival.

This display of wan effigies is termed as “Annam Kettu”. The procession carrying these effigies is normally organized in nights. Many tourists and visitors gather here during the festival celebrations and have a remarkable experience of Indian culture and traditions.

Time and venue of Celebrations:

The festival of Neelamperoor pooram Pata is organized every year around the festival of Onam in the month of September. In the year 2009, it will be held on 18th September 2009. It is held at the: Palli Bhagavathy Temple at Neelamperoor (Alappuzha district), 16 km away from Kottayam

How to reach there:

Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 16 km away.

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 km away

Payippad Boat Race Festival

The state of Kerala in India is a tourist’s delight with its amazing beautiful back waters that run throughout the state. The best way to enjoy these back waters is to witness the amazing boat Race festivals held here every year across different seasons. One of the most famous boat Race festivals in Kerala is the Payippad Boat Race.

The Payippad boat Race of Kerala is held in Payippadu near Harippad in Kerala. The boat Race is a time to have fun and indulge in festivity in galore. It attracts thousands of tourists every year with its charm of vivacity and galore.

As the name suggests this festival has a major attraction of boat Races. The boats used in this festival are termed as Snake boats as they resemble snakes in their appearances. These 100 feet long boats can accommodate around 100 people at a time. A single boat generally comprises of oarsmen and musicians who sing and shout throughout the event making the environment rise in verve and energy.  

The event lasts for three days and organized in the month of September. Apart from the boat Races, there are a number of cultural and folk performances that are organized by the state administration. The basis of the festival lies in the commemoration of the installation of the idol at the Subramanyan Swamy Temple in Haripad.
 

Historical Races:

According to legends, the residents of Haripad village once decided to build a temple, with the presiding deity being Sree Ayyappa.Before the idol was installed the villagers had some kind of a prophetic enlightment in which they were directed to install the idol of Sri Subramanya Swamy which could be found under a whirlpool in the Kayamkulam River.

As obedient devotees, divers and swimmers from the village rowed to the whirlpool and brought back the Subramanya vigrah in a boat. This idol was then installed in the temple, amid much jamboree. So in mark of respect to this legendary episode, Kerala Payippad Jalotsavam is conducted every year.
 

How to reach there:

The festival is held every year at the Payippad lake near Payippad, Alappuzha
 

Location: About 35 km from Alappuzha near Harippad
Nearest Railway Station: Harippad about 5km away
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha

Time for Celebration:
The festival of Payippad Boat Race is organized every year in the month of August-September. According to the Malayalam calendar it falls in the month of Chingam. In the year 2009, it will be celebrated on 4th September’2009.