January 2000
06 - 15: Agri Fest at Kanakakkunnu Palace,
Thiruvananthapuram. This is the largest agricultural fair of its kind in
the State.
Festival highlights:
-
Exhibitions
-
Seminars
-
Cultural shows
-
Variety entertainment
12 - 19: Annual seven day Utsavam at Siva Temple,
Ernakulam.
Festival highlights:
-
Seeveli procession, twice every day with 9
tuskers and panchavadyam
-
Pakalpooram on the seventh day
-
All night Kathakali performance on the first
and second nights
-
Ottanthullal
-
Music concerts
-
Arattu
Deity of the temple: Ernakulathappan (Lord Siva)
13 - 16: Malabar Mahotsavam at Kozhikode. A
cultural extravaganza that showcases the centuries old rich cultural heritage of
India.
Festival highlights:
14 - 23: Gramam (the Kerala
village fair) at Eve's beach, Kovalam, 14km from Thiruvananthapuram. An
entire Kerala village is recreated by the beach, during this ten day long
festival. The traditional nalukettu (the quadrangular upper class house
with a central open courtyard) and its premises become the venue of the fair,
where the culture, arts and crafts of Kerala come alive. The village
teashop serves typical Kerala cuisine.
Festival highlights:
-
Arts and crafts fair
-
Kathakali
-
Thiruvathirakali
-
Mohiniattam
-
Oppana
-
Kalaripayattu
-
Sarpapattu
-
Theyyam
-
Kummattikali
-
Kakkarisi natakam
-
Panchavadyam
-
Chakyarkoothu
-
Ottanthullal
18: Gajamela at Parthasarathy Temple, Adoor, near
Adoor KSRTC bus stand (92 km from Thiruvananthapuram).
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna
20: Concluding day of the ten day annual
Arthunkal Perunnal (the feast of St. Sebastian) at St. Andrew's Forance Church,
15 km from Alappuzha.
Festival highlights:
Patron of the Church: St. Andrew
21: Thaipooya Mahotsavam at Sree Subramanya Swamy
Temple, Haripad
Festival highlights:
-
Thaipooyam Kavadiyattam
-
Chuttuvilakku
Deity of the temple: Sree Subramnya
21: Annual seven day Thaipooya Mahotsavam at Sree
Maheswara Temple, Koorkencherry, 2 km from Thrissur.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Lord Siva
22 - 30: Flower Show at Kanakakkunnu Palace
grounds, Thiruvananthapuram. A rare collection of flowers and plants -
roses, anthurium, orchids, indoor plants and so on.
Festival highlights:
-
Floral decorations
-
Cultural programmes
-
Fashion shows
-
Contests etc.
23 - 30: International Contemporary Dance
Festival at Kochi.
Festival highlights:
27 - 02 February: Swathi
Sangeethotsavam at Kuthiramalika Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. The annual
classical music festival is organised by the government of Kerla. The
seven day music fest is conducted in honour of the great poet king of the
erstwhile Travancore dynasty - Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma - who composed most of
his works in this palace.
Festival highlights:
27 - 05 February: Ten day annual Utsavam at Sree
Parthasarathy Temple, Aranmula (10 km from Chengannur).
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna
February 2000
01 - 07: Gramam (the Kerala
village fair) at Kochi. This is similar to the one held at Kovalam,
Thiruvananthapuram in January. An entire Kerala village is recreated
during the ten day long festival. The traditional nalukettu (the
quadrangular upper class house with a central open courtyard) and its premises
become the venue of the fair, where the culture, arts and crafts of Kerala come
alive. The village teashop serves typical Kerala cuisine.
Festival highlights:
-
Arts and crafts fair
-
Kathakali
-
Thiruvathirakali
-
Mohiniyattam
-
Oppana
-
Kalaripayattu
-
Sarpapattu
-
Theyyam
-
Kummattikali
-
Kakkarisi natakam
-
Panchavadyam
-
Chakyarkoothu
-
Ottanthullal
02 - 06: Malabar Pepper Fest at
Kozhikode. This is an annual event and a rallying point for people in the
spice trade from all over the world, gourmets and gastronomic experts to explore
the spice coast. The fair is conducted during the pepper harvest season.
06: The annual Pattambi Nercha at
Pattambi Mosque. 61 km from Palakkad. The festival is held in memory of
Aloor Valiya Pookunjikoya Thangal, a Muslim saint of Malabar. The entire
town is brilliantly illuminated during the festival.
Festival highlights:
-
Pageants of 70 - 80 caparisoned tuskers, one
of the largest elephant pageants in India
-
Panchavadyam
-
Tayambaka
-
Procession of colourful floats which concludes
late at night on the banks of the Bharathapuzha
-
Folk art performances
-
Fireworks display
07 - 16: Annual ten day Utsavam at Mahadevar
Temple, Ettumanur, 12 km from Kottayam.
Festival highlights:
-
All night Kathakali performances on the first
four days
-
Velakali on the first eight days
-
Ezharaponnana ezhunnallathu (exposition and
procession of the seven golden elephants, six of them 2ft high and one half
the height, presented to the temple by the Maharajah of Travancore in 1759)
-
Arattu
Deity of the temple: Lord Siva
13 - 18: Five day annual Machattu Mamangam at
Machatu Thiruvanikavu Temple, 3 km from Vadakancherry, Thrissur
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Lord Siva
17 - 25: Annual ten day UTSAVAM at Sreekrishna
Temple.
Guruvayoor, 30 km from Thrissur.
Festival highlights:
-
Rituals
-
Elephants race
-
Cultural programmes
-
Krishnanattam
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna
18 - 27: Ten day annual Utsavam at Sree Vallabha
Temple, Thiruvalla.
Festival highlights:
-
Kathakali is performed in this temple almost
every night and Velakali, every afternoon of the year
-
Pallivetta on the ninth day of the festival
Deity of the temple: Lord Vishnu
19: Pooram at Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy
Temple, Palappuram, 5 km from Ottappalam, Palakkad.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
19: Chottanikkara Makam the annual nine day
festival at Sree Rajarajeswari Temple, Chotanikkara, 12 km from Ernakulam.
Festival highlights:
-
Arattu every day of the festival
-
Makamthozhal (special rite) on the seventh day
-
Pooram on the eighth day, with five
caparisoned elephants accompanied by temple ensembles
-
Grand fireworks display
-
Temple art forms
-
Cultural programmes
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
20: Annual Pongala Utsavam (to which only women
are allowed) at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Festival highlights:
-
Preparation of pongala by thousands of women
devotees in the temple courtyard
-
The chief priest of the temple goes around
carrying the sword of the Goddess, blesses the devotees, sprinkles holy
water and flower petals on them
-
Procession of deity's idol
-
Thalapoli
-
Kuthiyottam
-
Caparisoned elephants
-
Chendamelam
-
Nadaswaram
-
Kumbhamkudam
-
Classical music recitals
-
Bharatanatyam
-
Mohiniattam
-
Kathakali
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
20: Annual seven day Pooram at Pariyanampetta
Bhagavathy Temple, Kattukulam 40 km from Palakkad.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
21 - 27: Nishagandhi Dance Festival at
Nishagandhi open air theatre, Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram.
A week long festival of Indian classical dances
22 - 29: Annual Uthralikavu Pooram at Sree
Ruthira Mahakalikavu (Uthralikavu), Parithipra, Vadakancherry, Thrissur.
This is one of the most prominent festivals in central Kerala
Festival highlights:
-
Elephant processions during the day and at
night
-
Temple and folk art performances
-
Panchavadyam
-
Pandimelam
-
All night pooram on the concluding day in the
glow of temple torches called Theevatti
Deity of the temple: Goddess Kali
24 - 27: Theyyam Festival at Kuttikkol
Thampuratti Bhagavathy Temple
25 - 05 March: Annual ten day
Utsavam at Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakali Temple, Paripally, 48 km north
of Thiruvananthapuram. Elephants are offered as nercha (ritual offering
for prosperity) by individuals and institutions. Today over 50 elephants
participate in the ritual procession.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhadrakali
March 2000
04: Aluva Sivarathri (the night of Lord Siva) at
Siva Temple, on the banks of the river Periyar at Aluva, 16 km from Ernakulam.
Festival highlights:
-
Night long reading of the puranas and other
holy texts
-
Rural trade fiar
-
Cultural programmes
-
Vavubali (ritual in honour of the forefathers)
at dawn, the following day
10: Annual Bharani Utsavam at Chettikulangara
Bhagavathy Temple, 5 km from Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
11 - 13: Kakkoor Kalavayal at
Kakkoor, 10 km from Piravam, Ernakulam district. The Kalavayal (cattle
fair) is a traditional post harvest festival of the peasants of Kakoor.
The centuries old festival also has some religious legend connected to it.
It is believed that the deities of the two neighbouring villages - Edapara and
Ambasseri - are sisters and they meet annualy at the Kalavayal
-
Exhibition of agricultural products,
implements and other traditional crafts
-
Folk art performances
-
Music concerts
-
Elephant processions
-
Spectacular bullock cart race on the
concluding day
13 - 20: Annual seven day Utsavam at Sree
Karthyayini Temple, Cherthala, Alappuzha (on the Ernakulam - Alappuzha route)
Festival highlights:
-
Kodiyettam
-
Arattu
-
Elephant pageantry
-
Panchavadyam
-
Chendamelam
-
Ritual art performances
-
Kathakalui
Deity of the temple: Goddess Karthyayini
18: Concluding day of the annual seven day
Arattupuzha Pooram at Arattupuzha Temple, 14 km from Thrissur.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Sree Ayyappa
19: Annual Utsavam at Janardhana Swamy Temple,
Varkala, 55 km from Thiruvananthapuram.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Lord Vishnu
20 - 23: Kondotti Nercha at
Kondotti Mosque on the Kozhikode - Malappuram route, 35 km from Kozhikode.
The mosque dates back to the 18th century and is popularly known as the
Pazhayangadi mosque. It is associated with the Muslim saint Mohammad Shah
who is famous as Kondotti Thangal. The Valia Nercha (great vow) festival
attracts large crowds of devotees from all over Kerala.
21 - 30: Annual ten day Utsavam
at Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Ambalapuzha, Alappuzha district. The daily
offering of palpayasam (deliciously sweet milk porridge) at this temple is
famous all over Kerala.
Festival highlights:
-
Kodiyattam
-
Ambalapuzha Velakali in the afternoons
-
Padayani performances at night
-
The community feast, Natakasala Sadhya
-
Ritual procession
-
Ambanattu Panikkar community, bringing pots of
honey as ritual offering to the deity)
-
Pallivetta
-
Procession of caparisoned elephants
Deity of the temple: Sree Krishna
24: Annual Utsavam at Poruvazhi
Malandam Temple, 12 km from Adoor, Pathanamthitta district. This is
perhaps the only temple in India that is dedicated to Dhuryodhana, the
Antagonist in the epic Mahabharata.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Dhuryodhana
31 - 05 April: Kottakkal Pooram at Sree
Viswambara Temple, Kottakkal, Malappuram district.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Lord Vishnu in his
incarnation as Dhanvantari
April 2000
03: Nenmara - Vallangi Vela, Palakkad
Festival highlights:
Deities of the temples: Nenmara - Goddess
Bhagavathy; Vallangi - Lord Siva
07: Annual eight day Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam at
Sarkara Devi Temple, Chirayinkeezhu, 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
07: Bharani festival at Sree
Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple, Kodungalloor, 50 km from Kochi. This festival
attracts the largest congregation of Velichappadu (oracles) from all over Kerala.
Festival highlights:
-
Cultural programmes
-
Devotional rites
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
08 - 11: Malayatoor Perunnal (the annual feast on
the Sunday after Easter) at the Shrine of St. Thomas, Malayatoor, 52 km from
Kochi.
Festival highlights:
-
Pilgrims climb the 2000 ft high hill to
worship at the church, chanting hymns
-
Devotional rites held in the open air
-
Cultural programmes
08 - 17: Annual ten day Utsavam at Sree
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple Lord Vishnu
13 - 22: Ten day annual Mamangam at Thirunavaya
Navamukunda Temple, Near Ponnani, Malappuram.
Festival highlights:
-
Kodiyettam
-
Krishnanattam
-
Bharatanatyam
-
Kathakali
Deity of the temple: Navamukunda (Lord Vishnu)
14 - 24: Kadamanitta Padayani at the Kadamanitta
Devi Temple, 6 km from Pathanamthitta
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Goddess Bhagavathy
May 2000
07: Edathua Perunnal at St. George Church,
Edathua, 23 km from Alappuzha. The massive shrine on the banks of the
river Pamba is modelled on the medieval churches of Europe.
Festival highlights:
11: Thrissur Pooram at Thekinkadu Maidanam,
Thrissur
Festival highlights:
-
Pageant of 30 caparisoned elephants assembled
in the precincts of the Vadakumnathan temple. The nearby Paramekavu
and Thiruvambadi temples are also participants in the festival.
-
Kudamattam
-
Chendamelam
-
Panchavadyam
-
Spectacular fireworks display
13 - 22: Annual ten Utsavam at Koodalmanikyam
Temple, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur.
Festival highlights:
Deity of the temple: Sree Bharatha (brother of
Sree Rama)
June 2000
15 - 16: Annual Ochirakali at
Parabrahma Temple, Ochira, Kollam. The temple has no shrine or presiding
deity. It is consecrated to the cosmic consciousness. Ochirakali
commemorates the war between the rulers of Kayamkulam and Ambalapuzha
principalities on the Ochira Padanilam (battlefield)
Festival highlights:
July
2000
14:
CHAMPAKULAM BOAT RACE [Vallamkali]
at Harippad, Alappuzha district. This is one of the most popular boat races of
Kerala.
Festival
highlights:
-
Ceremonial
water procession
-
Spectacular
water floats
-
Decorated
boats
-
Vanchipattu
(folk song of the oarsmen)
-
The
chundanvallom (snake boat, over 100 feet in length, with a raised prow
similar to the hood of a snake) race.
August
2000
12:
NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE,
Punnamadakayal, Alappuzha. This, the greatest event on the backwaters of Kerala,
is held on the second Saturday of August every year. Magnificent snakeboats
compete for the prized trophy which was instituted by Jawaharlal Nehru, the
first prime minister of India.
Festival
highlights:
-
Ceremonial
water procession
-
Spectacular
water floats
-
Decorated
boats
-
Vanchipattu
-
Races
of smaller country crafts
-
The
chundanvallom (snake boat) race.
September
2000
01:
ATHACHAMAYAM Events to mark the beginning of the Onam festival on the Atham day
of the Malayalam month Chingam at Tripunithura, Kochi.
Festival
highlights:
01
- 10: Ten day CHANDANAKUDAM MAHOTSAVAM at Beempalli, 8 km from
Thiruvananthapuram. Devotees make an offering of coins in earthern pots (kudams)
which are smeared with sandal paste, hence the name chandanakudam
Festival
Hightlights:
-
Kodiyettam
-
Ratheeb
[purification ritual)
-
Vadithallu
-
Chandanakudom
procession on the tenth day led by caparisoned elephants
-
Panchavadyam
-
Dharamuttu
-
Plays
-
Music
concerts
-
Spectacular
fireworks display Patron of the shrine:
Beema Beevi, a pious muslim lady who was blessed with extraordinary powers.
08:
Concluding day of the annual eight day MANARKAD PERUNNAL at St. Mary's Church,
Manarkad, near Kottayam
Festival
highlights:
-
Eight
day ritual fast, locally called ettu noyambu
-
Ceremonial
procession carrying the golden cross and rows and rows of brilliantly
coloured parasols, on the last three days Deity of the church; St, Mary
09
- 15: ONAM WEEK CELEBRATIONS Onam is the annual harvest festival of Kerala.
Celebrations are on for ten days, beginning with the atham day of the Malayalam
month chingam.
Festival
highlights:
12:
PULIKALI at the Swaraj Ground, Thrissur. Pulikali is part of the Onam
celebration across the State.
Festival
highlight:
On
the fourth Onam day groups of people from all over Thrissur paint their bodies
in the likeness of tigers and wearing tiger masks, come to the Swaraj Ground in
processions and there present a grand pulikali (tiger dance).
15:
ARANMULA VALLAMKALI 10 km from Chengannur. This traditional boat race
conducted at Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Aranmula in connection with the Onam
celebrations is more of a water fiesta than a competition.
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