Festivals of temples in Kerala express the rich tradition of Kerala culture. The festivals of Kerala are famous around the globe due to its diversity of experience. Temple festivals promoted art and culture as well. They are also the citadels of many popular fine arts of Kerala. The artistic excellence of the state can be seen in these festivals.
1. Thrissur Pooram
Photo Courtesy Keralatourim.org
Thrissur pooram is one of the most famous and colorful temple festivals in Kerala. It is celebrated at the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur, the cultural district of Kerala. Ten temples around Thrissur are participating in this festival. Two main participants of this festival are Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple and Thiruvambady Sree Krishna temple. It is believed that God and Goddesses meet each other annually on this occasion.
Major events of Pooram
Madathil Varavu: Panchavadhyam melam, more than 200 artists participated in it, with instruments such as Thimila, madhalam, trumpet, cymbal, and Edakka.
Ilanjithara melam: It is held inside the Vadakkunnathan temple. The melam consists of drum, trumpets, pipe, and cymbal. The pooram has a good collection of elephants decorated with Nettipattam, strikingly crafted kolam, decorative bells, and ornaments.
Kudamattom: At the end of the pooram, after the Ilanjithara melam, both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi groups enter the temple through the western gate, come out through the southern gate and array themselves face to face in distant places. The two groups in the presence of melam, exchange colorful and crafted umbrellas competitively at the top of the elephants. It is one of the main highlights of Thrissur Pooram.
Fireworks: The main attraction of Thrissur pooram is a firework display. Sample Vedikkettu is displayed on the fourth day of pooram, it lasts for about one hour. Main firework display are well renowned all over the country. This amazing display of fireworks is held in the heart of Thrissur city, in Thekkinkadu maidan.
Pakal Pooram: It is on the seventh day of the pooram.
Chamayakazcha: The display of decorations and ornaments, which is also an amazing experience of Thrissur Pooram.
How to reach for attending Thrissur pooram
Thrissur railway station is situated at around 2 km away from the temple, whereas the closest airport is situated in Cochin, which is around 50 km away from the Kochi city and is well-connected to other cities
2. Attukaal Pongala
Photo Courtesy Keralatourim.org
The Attukal Pongala festival at Attukal Bhagavathi temple in Thiruvananthapuram is described as Sabarimala of the Women. The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is one of the most renowned temples of Bhadrakali in Kerala and ancient temples of South India.
On the 9th day of the temple festival, women join together to cook Pongal, a sweet delicacy in a clay pot. This is the best time to enjoy the culture of the land. Women will be dressed in traditional attire and wear antique jewelry. The delicacy is cooked with primitive equipment in an open-air ground near the temple. This festival is recognized by the Guinness book of records as the largest women gathering in the world for celebrating a festival.
Pongala begins with making a fire in the temple hearth known as Pandara Aduppu. The fire will then be passed to the women ready to offer pongala and the same fire spreads to all the tens of thousands of women, who are offering pongala.
Ceremonial rituals: Kappukettu, Kuthiyottam, Thalapoli, The procession of Goddess.
The festival commences on Karthika day of Malayalam month Makaram-Kumbham
(February-March). The Attukal Pongala is scheduled to be held on March 9, 2020. The Attukal Pongala event starts at 10.20 AM and ends at 2.10 PM with the traditional Nivedyam.
Location: Trivandrum
How to reach:
By rail: 2km from the Trivandrum Railway Station at Thampanoor.
By road: 2km from Central Bus station at Thampanoor.
1.5 km from City bus station at East Fort.
3. Sabarimala Makaravilakku
Photo Courtesy Keralatourim.org
Sabarimala is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world with an estimate of between 40 million and 50 million devotees visiting every year. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Ayyappan also known as Dharma Sastha, who according to belief is the son of Shiva and feminine incarnation of Vishnu.
The Sabarimala is a temple complex situated inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. It is in a hilltop amidst eighteen hills at an altitude of 480 m above sea level and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (approximately 15 November to 26 December), and then Makaravilakku or “Makara Sankranti” (14 January) and Maha Vishu Sankranti (14 April), and the first five days of each Malayalam month. Makaravilakku is an important day of this pilgrimage, It is believed that on Makara Vilakku day, Lord Dharmashasta stops his Tapasya to bless his devotees. The day is also called Makara Sankranthi
Upholding the customary traditions of the temple, presently the entry is restricted to men and women having in the age below 10 and above 50 years are allowed to enter the temple, that is women age between 10 and 50 years are not allowed.
4. Uthralikavu Pooram (February)
Photo Courtesy: Keralatourim.org
Uthralikkavu Pooram, the eight-day festival at Rudhira Mahakali Kavu temple, in Thrissur district’s Vadakkancherry, is dedicated to Goddess Kali and has a picturesque setting bordered by paddy fields. There are day and night elephant processions, folk art and traditional musical ensembles. Three villages compete for the grandest displays. The temple is famed for its Pooram festival held during February / March every year. It is considered as the second highest crowded pooram after Thrissur Pooram.
Uthralikkavu Temple is some two kilometers north of Wadakkanchery on the Kodungallore-Shoranur state highway. Amidst the paddy fields and surrounded by a chain of highlands and hills, the temple compound forms a rather arena-like stage where the Pooram and its associated features such as elephant procession, fireworks, percussion orchestra, etc. would be held. Despite the fact that the temple is rather small in size compared to its counterparts in Kerala and that it is located in an isolated rural part of the district, during the festival season, the temple and the village raises to media attraction and news fame.
How to reach Uthralikavu Temple
Location: Uthralikavu Temple, Vadakkancheri Thrissur
Getting there: By rail 21km from Thrissur railway station.
5. Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani
Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani is a famous festival in Kerala celebrated every year at the Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Chettikulangara, Alappuzha district, Kerala. It is held in the month of March or April, depend on Malayalam Calendar. Chettikulangara Bharani in the Bharani Nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Kumbha and hence the name Kumbha Bharani. Kuthiyottam and Kettukazhcha are the highlights of the festival. The festival is under consideration to be bestowed with the Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO.
. Chettikulangara Devi Temple dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali and known for the Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani festival. Kuthira and Theru mean Horses and Chariots are all incredibly gigantic temple cars.
Kuthiyottam: is performed as the most important offering to the deity. It is a symbolic human sacrifice to appease goddess Kali.
Kettukazhcha: is an offering of people of the 13 karas to their deity to thank for favors received as well as to seek her blessings. Chettikulangara kettukazhcha consists of six huge and heavily decorated temple cars known as ‘Kuthira’ (Horses), five smaller temple cars knew Theru’ (Chariots) and effigies of Bhima, Hanuman and Panchali.
Location: Chettikulangara, mavelikkara, Alappuzha, Kerala
Getting there
By train: 5km from Mavelikkara railway station.
By road: KSRTC buses are available from Alleppey and Trivandrum
6. Poornathrayeesa Vrishchikotsavam
Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia
Sree Poornathrayesa temple is situated in Tripunithura, Kochi, the capital of the former Kingdom of Cochin. It is a royal temple of erstwhile Kochi Kingdom. Vrishchikoltsawam at Poornathrayeesa Temple is conducted every year and the biggest temple festival of Ernakulam district. The deity was also considered as the National deity of Cochin and the protector guardian of the kingdom. More than 40 elephants participate in his grant vrishchikotsavam. And most of the elephants are sent for the utsavam without a money return expected by the elephant owners as poornathrayeesa is considered to be elephant lover.
Location: Tripunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala
Getting Poornathrayeesa Temple:
It is in the Tripunithura, only walkable distance from the bus station, Near Kochi
By rail: 1 km from Tripunithura railway station.
By road: Lot of Busses and Taxis available.
7. Vaikom Temple – Vaikathashtami
Vaikom Ashtami is the most famous festival at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, one of the few temples in India reverence by both Shaivites and the Vaishnavaites. The grandeur and splendor of this temple are magnificently articulated during Vaikathashtami – the twelve-day annual festival of the temple. The annual festival at the temple falls in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (On Pooram asterism and Ashtami comes together), corresponding to the months of November / December. The final day of the festival is marked by a grand procession carrying the thidambu (replica of the presiding deity) which would be joined by processions from nearby temples.
The Vaikom temple is famous for the Vaikom Ashtami (Vaikathashtami), one of its main festivals, which is held in November–December.
Vaikathashtami is celebrated on the day of Krishna Ashtami. The legend behind this festival is that years ago a saint man named Vyaghrapada prayed to God Siva for years after many years God Siva and his wife Parvathy Devi appeared in front of him. It is believed that god Siva appeared in front of him on the day of Krishna Ashtami. So as a memory of this Vaikathashtami is celebrated. It is the festival extending for 12 days. The 12th day is Vaikathashtami.
Location: Vaikom, Kottayam Dist, Kerala
How to reach Vaikom Temple:
Air: The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport.
Train: Vaikom Road Railway Station, on the Ernakulam – Kottayam line, is the nearest railway station. The other nearest major station is Kottayam Railway Station, about 25 km away.
Road: Vaikom is located 33 km south of Ernakulam and 40 km north of Kottayam. Regular bus services are available to Vaikom from Kottayam, Ernakulam and other parts of Kerala
8. Alpashi Utsavam in Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Padmanabhaswamy Temple host many festivals such as the Panguni festival, Alpashi Utsavam, and Ararat Festival. The festival at Shankumugham Beach is a major annual festival. In this magnificent Aarattu ceremony, the holy bath in the sea for the deities is the primary attraction. A large procession starts from the temple and proceeds to the Shanghumugham Beach, with the head of the Travancore Royal Family leading the procession, sword in hand. One gets to see caparisoned elephants, mounted police and columns of armed police as thousands of faithful devotees flock the streets to view this unique and historic sight.
Location: Trivandrum, Kerala
Getting there: 1km from Trivandrum Central
9. Ambalappuzha Arattu
The 10-day Arattu festival of famous Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple falls on the Malayalam month of Meenam (March-April). The festival begins with Kodiyettam (ceremonial flag hoisting) on Atham asterism and ends with an arattu (holy bath) on the Thiruvonam asterism.
The festival is noted for the processions by several caparisoned tuskers that happen from the second day of the festival, accompanied by percussions instrumental music and performances of Velakali – a martial art form that has its origin in Ambalappuzha are the main attractions. The famous Ambalapuzha Nadakashala Sadya, a ritualistic feast served on the Pallivetta day is another attraction of the annual festival of here.
The temple is also famous for its ‘paal payasam’ (rice porridge).
Location: Ambalappuzha, Alappuzha, Kerala
Getting Ambalapuzha Temple:
By rail: 1km from Ambalappuzha railway station.
10. Kodungallur Bharani
Photo Courtesy KeralaTourim.org
Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple (alternatively Kodungallur Devi Temple) is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District in Kerala. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali. The goddess is known also by the names “Sri Kurumba” (The Mother of Kodungallur). This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala especially Malabar.
The temple is often accredited as the original form of Goddess Kali. During the reign of Later Cheras, Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur) was the capital of the Chera empire and one of the most important parts of the region. The Temple was built in a remote past and its worship incorporates ancient Shaktyem customs which are rarely observed in contemporary Kerala temples.
Kodungalloor Bharani is the annual festival at the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple situated at Kodungalloor, it takes place during the Malayalam month of Meenam (March-April).
The main event of the Bharani festival is the Aswathy Kaavutheendal, held on the day prior to Bharani asterism. And on this day devotees can witness a sea of red overruns the premises as a flurry of oracles (velichappad) dancing in a trance offer their prayers to the deity. It is a mystical experience for all who have a chance to view it. The devotion of the believers as they dance along with the oracles with spiritual euphoria is a truly riveting sight.
Oracles, both men and women, dash around the temple and smite their heads with their swords, proclaiming their communion with the Mother Goddess. The devotees strike the temple rafters with sticks and hurl offerings over the roof and on to the inner quadrangle. The Bharani festival celebrates the birth of Bhadrakali (Hindu Goddess) who as per legend was born from the third eye of Lord Shiva and was the one who went to finish off the demon Darika. This is an extremely important festival, especially in Northern Kerala.
The rituals at the temple are believed to have originated from the ancient ties between Kodungalloor and Thondi; a region under Chera rule that also contained their second capital. People await these festivities with bated breaths each year.
Venue: Kodungalloor Bhagavathy Temple, Kodungallur, Thrissur Dist, Kerala
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Irinjalakuda, about 20 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 30 km
By road: 40 km from Kochi and 35 km from Thrissur
11. Parippalli Gajamela
This important elephant pageant is held at Kodimoottil Bhagavathy temple at Parippally, in Kerala’s Kollam district.
A host of as many as 50 caparisoned elephants parade majestically as a tribute to the deity during the Parippally Gajamela, a part of the annual festival at the Kodimoottil Sree Bhagavathy Temple dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. A host of cultural programs are staged as part of this event on the temple premises for the entertainment of the devotees. The elephant procession takes place on the tenth day of the annual festivities at the temple. A unique practice observed during these festivities is the ritual offering of elephants to deities as Nercha- offering. It is a popular belief that an offering of elephants satisfies the deity and grants all the wishes of the devotees. The festival is punctuated by cultural programs and culminates in the Paripally Gajamela.
The Paripally Gajamela will be celebrated in March.
Getting there :
By rail
Kollam Junction, about 22 km away from Paripally
By air: Trivandrum International Airport, about 45 km away
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