Cochin Carnival
A week long extravaganza welcoming the New Year celebrated in the global tourist destination Cochin is Cochin Carnival. God’s own country, Kerala attracts lakhs of tourists every year from different countries. Cochin Carnival is officially inaugurated with hoisting of flag at the Vasco Da Gama Square with Kochi Fort being decorated with white paper symbolising peace.The festival traces from Portuguese colonial times. The highlighting event of the festival is the procession on the New Year’s day with decorated elephants at the front. The procession involves performances blended with the traditions of Portuguese, Punjabi, Gujarati, Dutch, Arab and Malayali, truly a visual retreat. Series of competitions like beach boxing, beach volleyball, kayaking and marathon entertain the visitors to the core..
Where : Cochin, Kerala
Upcoming Dates: December 25, 2020 – January 1, 2021
Thrissur Pooram – Kerala’s Grand Fiesta
A 36 hours long pooja is Pooram, celebrated in Thrissur, Kerala is surely a visual retreat. This festival is celebrated at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur which is generally around April month, with traditional puja, ending with fabulous fireworks. The festival is celebrated to worship Lord Shiva and involves color, music, and religion. The major attraction of this festival is enthralling sights of more than fifty caparisoned elephants passing through the streets of Thrissur accompanied by the sound of beating drums.
Where: Thrissur, Kerala
Upcoming Date : April 23, 2021
Kerala Boat Race Festival
Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alleppey Punnamada lake ( every year 2nd Saturday of August ), Champakulam Moolam Boat Race at Alappuzha which will during May month ( dates will varies depends on Malayalam month calendar date) , and Payippad Jalotsavam at Payippad Lake located at a distance of 35 km from the district Alappuzha are the famous boat races in Kerala. Usually these boat race festival held in between July to September months. Unique feature of the boat festival is either associated with temples or with Onam. President‘s Trophy Boat Race at Ashtamudi is happening 1st November every year, which is located in Kollam district.
Where: Alleppey, Kerala
Upcoming Date of Nehru Trophy Boat Race : August 14, 2021
Onam – Homecoming of King Mahabali
Kerala’s biggest festival Onam draws tourists from all corners of the world. Falling between the months of July and August,Onam lasts for ten days, celebrating the home coming of King Mahabali. Religious anecdotes convey that King Mahabali,when punished by Lord Vishnu for his sins, got a boon from the God to visit his people once in a year.
Entire Kerala without any barriers of religion, caste and community looks forward to celebrate onam with gorgeous decorations of their houses, flowers rangolis called Athapookalam on the streets and special prayers in the temples. The last day of the festival is earmarked with Onam Sadya, the grand feast offered in the houses of every Malayali across the world. With more than 40 dishes on a big banana leaf, the Onam Sadya can never be out of the list for anyone. With bidding a farewell to the beloved King Mahabali, the onam festival comes to an end.
Where: Kerala
Upcoming Date : August 21, 2021
THEYYAM FESTIVAL – KERALA
One of the iconic festivals of the God’s Own country is Theyyam festival, representing a ritual art form. Theyyam is a special art form of Kerala where the epics of Hindu Mythology are demonstrated as dance drama. The highlight of Theyyam is the make up of tshe artistes and the heavy jewelries put on them. The style of Theyyam is so unique that the entire duration of the performances the audience are spell bound with the excellent dance movements and expressions given by the artistes. There are more than 400 Theyyam shows, more popularly celebrated in cities of North East Kerala like Kannur, Nileshwar and Karivalloor commencing from November and ends in February. The major events of this festival are conducted in the temple premises of Kannur.
Where: Parts of Kerala, like Kannur and Nileshwar
Months of Celebration: November 2020 – February 2021
