Thirunakkara Arattu

Kerala has always been quoted God’s own country; its lush green surroundings give a cool and soothing sight to everyone. There is harmony among all the communities of the state. Its rich culture and heritage is a pleasure.

Kerala is the land of high festivities and cheer. Many festivals are celebrated in this beautiful land. One of the famous temple festivals, Thirunakkara arattu is celebrated at Thirunakkara Mahaeva Temple located in the heart of Kottayam district of Kerala. Mahadeva is the presiding deity of the temple.

The passionate celebration continues for ten days and concludes with the bathing ceremony of lord Mahadeva called ‘ARATTU’.

A string of nine majestically ornamented and decorated elephants accompany the idol of the lord Mahadeva for bathing in the noon.

They are accompanied by drummers and dancing flock of people.

The mystic traditional dance of Kerala, Kathakali forms an important part of the celebrations. The beautifully and colourfully dressed and masked Kathakali dancers perform all night long on third and fourth night.

Other dances like Mayilattom (peacock dance), Velakali and motif processions are also showcased in the temple compound.

The fêted Mahadeva Temple is situated on the Thirunakkara Hill of the Kottayam town and is one of the important Shiva temples famous for its historical importance, antiquity, sanctity and also for its magnificent traditional architecture.

The grand festival "Arattu Utsavam" starts from the 1st day of Meenam month of Malyalam calendar. That falls in March-April of Gregorian calendar.

Thousands of people, irrespective of caste or creed attend this festival.

Various industrial and agricultural products are displayed and traded in the shops of the fair held in connection with the Utsavam. The cultural programmes and variety entertainments staged during the festive days are the highlights of the festival.

Time for celebration

The grand festival "Arattu Utsavam" starts from the 1st day of Meenam month of Malyalam calendar. That falls in March-April of Gregorian calendar. Thousands of people, irrespective of caste or creed attend this festival. This year the festival will start from March 15 and end on March 24.

Getting there

Rail

Nearest railway station is Kottayam which is a few minutes drive from the shrine.

Air

Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport which is about 76 km away from Kottayam.

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.

  

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.

Navrathri Music Festival

The Navrathri Music Festival is a nine day musical fiesta held in the state of Kerela. During these nine days the evenings of Thiruvananthapuram are filled with exquisite music and honeyed voices echoing in the atmosphere. This cultural, musical, festive fiesta is a remarkable experience for all visitors. People from all across the country gather here during these nine days to witness some of the best works in the field of Music, dance and entertainment.

The music festival usually features some of the exquisite kritis (compositions) of King Swathi Thirunal, the music maestro and former ruler of Travancore. This cultural fiesta is held every year in the month of September. The nine-day music festival is held at the Navarathri Mandapam, a pavilion beautifully decorated with flowers, located inside the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram.

One can imagine the vivacity of this musical extravaganza as the magic of soulful music combined with sweet fragrance ofhearing loss) technology in place. For this purpose, these are earthen pots, which are kept in place by means of coir ropes, with their mouths open down towards the ground. These pots are of different sizes and thickness with their mouths having different measurements. For the purpose of sound reflectors and to prevent echoes, they are kept at different angles (compositions) of King Swathi Thirunal, the music maestro and former ruler of Travancore. This cultural fiesta is held every year in the month of September. The nine-day music festival is held at the Navarathri Mandapam, a pavilion beautifully decorated with flowers, located inside the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. sandalwood lingering in the air is ecstatic. In addition to the exemplary music styles rdisplayed in the Navrathri Music festival, the venue has an indigenous acoustic (A remedy for hearing loss) technology in place. For this purpose, these are earthen pots, which are kept in place by means of coir ropes, with their mouths open down towards the ground. These pots are of different sizes and thickness with their mouths having different measurements. For the purpose of sound reflectors and to prevent echoes, they are kept at different angles .

Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram, about 1 km away

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 kms away

Vallarpadam Perunnal

St. Mary’s church is an extremely popular catholic church located in Ernakulam, Kerala. The patron of the church St. Mary is affectionately called Vallarpadath Amma (mother of Vallarpadam) by devotees here. As Kerala is a state full of fisher folk and sailor community and St. Mary is the patron saint for this community. It is believed that she would prevent sailors and fishermen from all dangers of sea and other sorts of adversities.

Vallarpadam Perunnal is an annual feast cum fair organized during the Perunnal (Feasting) days. The feast lasts for nearly a week. The fair draws thousands of visitors from all over India and is a highly prestigious event for the localites of the area. The exhibition includes sale of country boats, crafts and straw mats

According to history the church is supposed to have been established in 1676 by the Portuguese. The church is an exotic peace of architecture. It is built on a small island of Ernakulam in the picturesque backwaters encircling the Kochi harbour.

Time of celebration:

The event is normally organized in the month of September. In the year 2009, it will be held on 24th September .

How to reach there:

Nearest railway station: Ernakulam
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 20 km.