Kerala is most well-known for its Onam festival, but it also has other significant festivals that we all should be aware of, and we’re about to help you out with that information! Some of the most well-known festivals in Kerala include Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Thiruvathira, Theyyam Festival, Arattu at Trivandrum, Ambalapuzha Arattu, Aranmula Uthrattathi, Attukal Pongala, Christmas, Makaravilakku Festival, and Adoor Gajamela.
Top 12 Most Popular Festivals of Kerala
Here in this article, Swastik Tours and Travels, Listed Top 12 most popular festivals in Kerala, that everyone must enjoy while go to kerala.
Onam
Onam is a holiday that resembles God from God’s own nation. This is the time of year when Kerala is ablaze with trumpets, drums, elephants, boat races, dances, art, and music as well as floral decorations, lights, colours, rituals, and the delectable Onasadya, without which the festivities would be lacking. The Onam spirit is shared by all people, whether they are Malayali or not.
Vishu
There isn’t much to say about Vishu, but it is the second-most significant holiday or festivals in Kerala since it celebrates the beginning of the New Year, which often occurs on April 14, 15, or 16. For the Malayalis, this day sets the tone for the remainder of the year. Vishu 2023 is on Saturday, 15 April.
Thrissur Pooram
The Thrissur Pooram, the biggest and most well-known of all Poorams, takes place at the Vadukkannathan Swamy temple in Kerala every year in April or May. According to the Malayalam calendar, this annual Hindu temple festivals in Kerala is held for a week during the month of Medam. Raja Ravi Varma, the Maharaja of Cochin and renowned as Sakthan Thampuran, presided over its inaugural event. A great festival is brought to life by a union of ten temples that are ordained as two groups, Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu, with a show of inventive fireworks and elephant caparisons. Thrissur Pooram is a must-see festival because it is regarded as the biggest secular festivals in Kerala as well as in Asia.
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The temple-festival takes place on the day when the Pooram star sees the rising moon in the old Malayali calendar’s month of Medam. The dates for the festival’s observance change every year in relation to the dates and months of the widely used Christian calendar because they are determined by the Malayalam calendar, which differs from the Christian calendar.
Thiruvathira
Most of the time, this festival is observed in either December or January. It is one of the most popular festivals in Kerala, entirely devoted to Lord Shiva, and it is thought that today is a perfect and lucky day to worship him. For the blessing of the Lord, most of Lord Shiva’s followers travel this temple.
Theyyam Festival
When you were younger, do you recall seeing those painted and masked faces dancing to lovely rhythms? Theyyam is exactly that. People plans Kerala holiday packages from all over India to enjoy this festivals in kerala, which is almost 800 years old, to perform dances while adorned as Deities. Theyyam Festival 2023 is on 19-24 March.
Attukal Temple, Trivandrum
One of the most talked-about temples in the entire nation, not just the South, is the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Trivandrum. There are several reasons for this temple’s appeal, but the one that stands out the most is arguably the Guinness World Book record it obtained when more than 37 lakh women simultaneously presented pongala there, making it the site of the biggest gathering of women for a religious activity! This temple, also referred to as the “Sabarimala of Women,” attracts a sizable crowd of women every year during the celebrated Attukal Pongala festival.
Christmas
Due to the fact that there are more Christians in Kerala than anywhere else, Christianity has had an impact there as well. Due to all the Christian communities, Christmas is a very significant celebration in Kerala. We don’t believe we need to explain why Christmas is celebrated, do we? Everyone is familiar with the account of Jesus’ birth.
Makaravilakku
On January 14th of every year, in honour of Makar Sakranti, Sabrimala Temple hosts the yearly event known as Makaravilakku. Thiruvabharanam, or Ayappan ornaments, are carried by a procession of persons wearing religious clothing. The journey begins from Pandalam two days before Makara Jyothi Day.
Makaravilakku Festival 2023 is on 15 January, so people can book their Kerala tour packages from Mumbai.
Ambalapuzha Arattu
The Ambalapuzha Arattu festival honours Ambalapuzha Unnikannan and is held in the Sree Krishnaswamy Temple in Alapuzha. The Arattu is performed on the tenth day of the festival, which is known as the Thiruvonam Nakshatram.
Arattu at Trivandrum
During the Painkuni Festival, Lord Padmanabhan receives his Arattu (holy wash) in the Padmanabaswamy Temple. It is one of the key ceremonies that take place during the festival, and what makes it special is that the head of the Travancore royal family still accompanies the idols in the procession to the Shanghumugham beach while dressed in traditional garb.
Aranmula Uthrattathi
Aranmula Uthrattathi is the occasion for the century-old boat race known as the Aranmula. An enthusiastic throng is cheering from the river Pampa’s banks as the snake boats move in pairs.
Adoor Gajamela
Everything is in the name. Gaja means elephant and mela means fair in Sanskrit. Since Kerala is an area where elephants thrive, elephants will almost certainly be present at any temple festivals you attend. The Parthasarathy Temple hosts the ten-day Adoor Gajamela festival, which is held in honour of Lord Krishna.
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