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Home » Fairs in Kerala
Fairs in KeralaThrissur Pooram  This festival held at Thekinkadu Maidan at Thrissur in the month of MayHighlights - » Pageant of 30 caparisoned elephants assembled in the precincts of the vadakumnathan temple. » The nearby paramekavu and thiruvambadi temples are also participants in the festival. » Kudamattam (changing of umbralla from hands to hands) » Chendamelain (kind of drums) » Panchavadyam (five typical instruments played) » Spectacular fireworks display Onam  The Harvest Festival - Onam Onam, the harvest festival is the most popular festival of Kerala. A festival that celebrates a happy blend of myth and reality, Onam is part of the cultural repertoire of every Malayalee. It brings back nostalgic memories, carried on the wings of folklore, of a bygone Utopian era of prosperity, equality and righteousness, under the golden reign of Mahabali. Year after year, for centuries, the people of Kerala, irrespective of caste, creed or colour, join together to welcome back their vanquished king. The ten-day Onam festival falls in August-September, coinciding with the beginning of the harvest season.  Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race The event is a memorial to the former prime minister. Highlights - » Colourful water procession » Water floats » Boat races  Makaravilakku Makaravilakku at sree dharamasastha temple, sabarimala. This is one of the few occasions when the temple is open to the public. Highlights - » On the evening of makara sankranthi, the makara vilakku/makara jyothi ( the light of kakara) is believed to be seen on the eastern horizon. Thousands of pilgrims gather here to witness the event. » Special devotional rites » Devotees are decreed to practise severe austerities and total abstinence for 60 days before climbing the hills to the temple.  Maramom Convention16 km from thiruvalla, pathanamthitta, on the banks of river pamba in february, every year. Highlights - » Considered the largest gathering of christians in asia. » Bible study and discourses by scholars from india and abroad. » Religious readings » Hymnals » Faith healing sessions » People arrive in country crafts (valloms) Nehru Trophy Boat Race  Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most famous of the boat races of Kerala. This
annual regatta is held on the Punnamada Backwaters of Alappuzha district
on the second Saturday of August. The event is a commemoration of the visit to this place by the late Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1952. The spectacular races features magnificent snake boats or 'Chundans'. The boisterous and rhythmic boat songs or Vanchipattu work the spectators to a state of frenzy.  Indira Gandhi Boat Race Indira Gandhi Boat Race is a grand fest on the rolling backwaters of Kochi. Conducted in the last week of December, it is a fitting finale to the Tourism Fair, which attracts travellers from all parts of the globe. The sixteen majestic snake boats racing neck to neck in gaiety and competition to the sky-rending cheers of the multitudes, is a unique sight. The coveted trophy of the race was instituted in memory of Indira Gandhi, the late Prime Minister of India. Christmas  Christmas is celebrated with equal enthusiasm by all communities in kerala.Highlights - » Stars decorate houses right from the second week of december. » Christmas trees, decoration and festive music ring through the state. » Midnight mass and special rites at all christian churches. » Social and cultural events. » Fireworks and colourful illuminations. Deepawali  Another national festival. Deepavali means the festival of lights. There
are many legends connected with the festival. Some say that it is a celebration
of sree krishna's victory over the demon narakasura; others hold that it
is the day sree rama returned from exile.Highlights - » All houses are lit with rows and rows of small earthern oil lamps. » Special devotional rites to lakshmi. The goddess of prosperity. » Entire day of merrymaking and feasting. » Distribution of special deepavali sweets. » Fireworks and crackers.  Aranmula Vallamkali 10 km from chengannur. This traditional boat race conducted at sree parthasarathy temple, aranmula in connection with the onam celebrations is more of a water fiesta than a competition.  Champakulam Boat Race This is one of the most popular boat races of kerala. Highlights - » Pceremonial water procession. » Spectacular water floats. » Decorated boats. » Vanchipattu (folk song of the oarsmen) The chundanvallom (snake boat, over 100 feet in length, with a Raised prow similar to the hood of a snake) race.
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