Kerala wakes up to some festival or the other
every day of the year and Keralites are addicted to the festivals.
In short Keralisation of the festivals of different
communities is the unique feature of Kerala life.
Onam
Onam in August September every year is the most popularly
celebrated ,ten day singing dancing ,festing and religious
ceremonies. This harvest festival is celebrated to welcome the
legendary king Mahabali. Intricate floral decorations are made on
the courtyard to welcome this king on his visit to his beloved
subjects. The most exciting feature of the festival however, is the
snake boat races held at several places on the palm-fringed lagoons.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of those events which the people of
Kerala look forward to with excitement. Pavilions are set up for the
spectators on the banks and in the middle of Punnamada Lake the
venue of the race. This boat race takes its name from Indias
first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who inaugurated in 1952.
There are separate races for women too. The race begins with a
colourful pageant of floats performing arts and decorated boats and
goes on late into the evening.
Payippad Jelotsavam
Payippad Jelotsavam held in memory for the Prathista ceremony of
Haripad Subramanya temple and therefore has a religious
significance. This festival is celeberated for three days commencing
from the Onam festival day. Snake boat processions are taken out on
the first two days and competitive boat race take place on the third
day.
Attukal Pongala
Attukal Pongala this is the one and the only temple festival in the
world where lakhs of women assembled together to make offerings by
cooking a pudding for the goddess in the Attukal temple. It is taken
home after the chief priest of the temple will come and sprinkle the
holy water and will shower the flowers. This festival will come to
an end in the evening with a procession from the temple.
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram festival is a mammoth spectacle with arrays of
thirty caparisoned elephants bedecked with gold ornaments. Each
elephant is ridden by three mahouts holding projects symbolizing
royalty. As the elephants line up facing each other in two straight
rows, still in their disciplined dignity, the ancient resonance of
Panchavadyam, the five instruments of conch,cymbals,trumpet and two
kinds of drums build up a crescendo.
Navarathri
Navarathri this festival is in praise of mother Saraswati, the
goddess of knowledge and music. A musical concert of reputed
classical singers is held every evening for nine days at the
Navarathri Mandapam of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in
Thiruvananthapuram.
Deepavali
Deepavali the happiest and the festival of lights is held through
out India .In night countless oil lamps are lit followed by bursting
crackers
Christmas
Christmas comes to our mind land with the season of mist. It gleens
with the message of eternal peace in the torched and troubled lives.
With lights and sweets and songs and fireworks be greet the son of
God and make manger in our mind for a new born baby.



