Top 20 Most Famous Festivals of Kerala

Festivals are very famous in Kerala. These festivals are a mirror of the rich cultural and religious history of Kerala. Each of these festivals has its importance. You can also enjoy these festivals when you visit Kerala. The people of Kerala celebrate these festivals with great festivities. They exchange gifts, visit each other’s houses, and wear new clothes. We bring you the top 20 most famous festivals of Kerala here.

List of the 20 Popular Festivals Celebrated in Kerala

• Onam Festival
• Thrissur Pooram Festival
• Pongala Festival
• Navarathri Festival
• Makaravillakku Festival
• Kerala Village Fair
• Aluva Sivarathri Festival
• Vishu Festival
• Easter Festival
• Thiruvathira Festival
• Chandanakudam Mahotsavam
• Nishagandhi Dance and Music Festival
• Theyyam Festival
• Ambalapuzha Arattu
• Aranmula Uthrattathi
• Christmas
• Adoor Gajamela
• Kodungalloor Bharani
• Shivratri
• Kerala Boat Races

1. Onam Festival

The festival of Onam is famous in Kerala. This is a festival that the people celebrate for 10 days. The people believe that King Mahabali comes down to earth. They welcome him by decorating their houses, lighting lamps, and doing rangoli. People gather in temples pray to their deities, and eat feasts.

2. Thrissur Pooram Festival

The festival known as Thrissur Pooram festival is also one of the top 20 most famous festivals of Kerala. People of Kerala celebrate Thrissur Pooram in April or May. 101 decorated elephants are the main attraction of this festival. The temple priests assemble these elephants in the Vadakumnatha temple. Dancers, and musicians, play musical instruments and dance to traditional dances and tunes.

3. Pongala Festival

The festival known as Pongala Festival is also the top 20 most famous festivals of Kerala. The Attukal Bhagavathy temple is the main attraction of this festival. The temple is located at a distance of 2 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Thousands of pilgrims and religious followers gather in the temple. They offer a sweet porridge kind of dish called Pongala to the goddess.

4. Navarathri Festival

This is a very famous festival called the Navarathri Festival. The people of Kerala celebrate this festival with great pomp and celebration. They worship the goddess Durga and other goddesses. People worship all nine different incarnations of the goddess during the nine nights of the Navarathri Festival. People worship books, and jewellery during this festival.

5. Makaravilakku Festival

The Makaravilakku Festival is another festival that comes in the list of the top festivals that the people of Kerala celebrate. The people of Kerala celebrate this festival in January. Thousands of pilgrims visit the Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta to celebrate this festival. They worship Ayyappa, who is a famous deity in Kerala.

6. Kerala Village Fair

The people of Kerala celebrate this festival in the city of Kovalam. Thousands gather at Kovalam Beach to celebrate this festival. They celebrate this festival for 10 days and recreate a village scene. A huge fair takes place and Nalukettu becomes the greatest attraction in this fair. People make several stalls and sell coconuts, and woven baskets. There are dance and music performances.

7. Aluva Sivarathri Festival

The festival that is known as Aluva Sivarathri Festival is also the top 20 most famous festivals of Kerala. People of Kerala celebrate this festival at the banks of the Periyar River. They celebrate this festival to mark the event when Lord Shiva drank poison. People read Puranas and take part in cultural programs during this time.

8. Vishu Festival

The festival known as Vishu is a festival that is very famous in Kerala. The people of Kerala celebrate this festival to mark the start of the astronomical new year. They perform the Kani Kanal, which is an important ceremony, and wear white clothes and gold ornaments. They cook traditional sweets like rice pudding and light lamps.

9. Easter Festival

The festival known as Easter is one of the top 20 most famous festivals of Kerala. Christians celebrate Easter to mark the day when Christ was reborn. This festival is a celebration to mark the victory of good forces over the evil forces of nature. The Christians who live in Kerala gather in churches and hold prayers with lighted lamps.

10. Thiruvathira Festival

This festival known as the Thiruvathira Festival is a famous cultural festival that is celebrated in Kerala. This is a women’s festival and women gather and visit the temples of Lord Shiva. The popular dance form of Thiruvathirkkali is also linked very closely to this festival.

11. Chandanakudam Mahotsavam

The popular festival known as Chandanakudam Mahotsavam is celebrated across Kerala. Muslims celebrate this festival as a mark of respect to Bee Umma, who was a woman saint. Devotees bring earthen pots and decorate them with flowers, incense sticks, and sandalwood paste.

12. Nishagandhi Dance and Music Festival

This is a cultural festival and its name is the Nishagandhi Dance and Music Festival. The people of Kerala organize this festival at Nishagandhi Open Air Theatre. Famous dancers and artists perform classical dance forms of South India such as Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Mohiniattam, Odissi, Manipuri, and more.

13. Theyyam Festival

The festival of Theyyam is nearly 800 years old and there is no specific date when this festival is celebrated. Theyyam is a type of cultural dance and artists decorate themselves as deities. The people of Kerala usually perform Theyyam between December to April.

14. Ambalapuzha Arattu

The festival known as Ambalapuzha Arattu is celebrated in Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple. Here, the priests take out the idol of the deity in a procession and dance to the tune and beats of cymbals and drums. The idol is given a bath in the Pampa river.

15. Aranmula Uthrattathi

This is a very unique festival that takes place in Kerala. This is a type of water boat race in which people participate in boat races in the Krishna River. Snake boats are decorated and devotees sing boat songs before the race.

16. Christmas

The most famous festival of Christmas is celebrated in Kerala with great pomp and cultural celebrations. The people of Kerala decorate their homes with lights and Christmas trees. Churches hold midnight mass and many Christians gather in churches and attend to the prayers.

17. Adoor Gajamela

This is a very interesting elephant procession. The temple priests at Parthasarathy Temple in Adoor take a procession of decorated elephants. This festival lasts for 10 days and various artists perform dance and music.

18. Kodungalloor Bharani

The people of Kerala celebrate the festival of Kodungalloor Bharani in Kodungalloor Bhagavathy Temple. This is an ancient temple and the main deity of this temple is the goddess Bhadrakali. Artists and devotees perform dance and music performances during this time.

19. Shivratri

The festival known as Shivratri is very famous in Kerala. This is a religious festival in which people worship Lord Shiva. They stay awake at midnight and do fasting for this period.

20. Kerala Boat Race

The very famous Kerala Boat Race take place in Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. Thousands of participants take part in the boat race. The boat race takes place in July or August months.

Conclusion

These were the top 20 most famous festivals of Kerala. When you visit Kerala, you must participate in them and visit Kerala during this time. You will see the cultural side of Kerala, and not just its natural wonders. You can mark these dates on the calendar and visit Kerala during the festival times.

FAQs