The biggest and most celebrated festival in Kerala, usually held in August–September. It celebrates the legendary King Mahabali and Kerala’s harvest season.
Major highlights include:
- Pookalam (flower carpets)
- Onam Sadhya (traditional feast)
- Vallam Kali (snake boat races)
- Pulikali (tiger dance)
Malayalam New Year, celebrated on April 14. Families prepare the auspicious “Vishukkani” arrangement and exchange gifts called “Vishukkaineettam.”
Vishu celebrations are believed to have begun in Kerala during the reign of Sthanu Ravi who ruled the region between AD 844 and 855. In parts of Northern Kerala, it is customary for two boys to dress up in dried banana leaves representing Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi during the festival.
A ritual art festival mainly celebrated in northern Kerala districts like Kannur and Kasaragod. Performers wear elaborate costumes and represent deities and ancestral spirits.
Held at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, this women-led festival is famous for the massive offering ritual and has appeared in world records for women participation.
One of India’s grandest temple festivals, held in Thrissur. Famous for:
- Decorated elephants
- Panchavadyam and Chenda Melam percussion
- Fireworks
- Kudamattam (umbrella exchange)
A thrilling snake boat race held in the backwaters of Alappuzha during the Onam season.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is an annual vallam kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkaliy literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popular event of the race is the competition of Chundan Vallams (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. Other categories of boats which participate in various events of the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam.
A traditional festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, celebrated mostly by women with the graceful Thiruvathirakali dance.
Primarily observed by women, it involves: Fasting: Married women fast from the preceding day (Makayiram nakshatra) until Thiruvathira for the well-being of their husbands and families.
A major pilgrimage festival at Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple attracting millions of devotees every year.
Makaravilakku is a mystic deepam (Fire glow) on the Makara Jyothi day that can be seen at ponnambalamedu. It can be seen from Sabarimala beneath the celestial star Sirius. Ponnambalamedu is at a height of 1170m and Sabarimala is at a height of 1,260m above mean sea level. The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments of the deity Ayyappan) procession and a congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala. An estimated half a million devotees flow to Sabarimala every year to view the fire.
