Festivals in Kerala

Aranmula Vallamkali Boat Race is truly a feast to the eyes of the visitors, who come from far off places to see it. The boat race is no less than a festival, which is celebrated over a period of two days.? Showcasing the great passion of the people of Kerala, Aranmula Vallamkali Boat Race is organized during Onam, the most famous festival of Kerala. This popular boat race is held on Pampa River in Aranmula, near the Shri Parthasarathy Temple. On the first day, a beautiful idol of Shri Krishna is taken out in procession on the lake. The second day is marked by the boat race.

If you are on your Kerala tour during the Champakulam Boat Race , thank your stars. It is an amazing boat race attracting huge crowd. Champakulam Boat Race is the oldest boat race in Kerala depicting the age-old traditions of the state. Associated with the Shri Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha, the boat race is conducted on the Champakulam Lake. It is held during the harvest season on the Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam(July).This is the day when the idol of the Lord is installed in the temple. The spirit of the participants is truly commendable, as the competition is really tough.
The season of the Boat Races in Kerala is truly a time for merriment for the people. If you get an opportunity to see any of the above boat races of Kerala, then never let it slip off your hands. The Boat Races are entertaining to the hilt!

Festivals such as Christmas hold an important place in the hearts of the people of Kerala. Irrespective of caste and creed, Christmas is celebrated with zeal. The festival commemorates the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The decoration of Christmas includes the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, holly and nativity scenes. Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, is a popular mythological figure. He is associated with giving gifts to people, especially children, on Christmas.People visit churches and pray to Jesus Christ on this festival. Feasting is the appealing part of the festival. Delicious cakes and sweets are? prepared at home during the festival.

Diwali, the festival of light is celebrated with gaiety in Kerala. It is mostly celebrated in those regions of the state where prominent Tamil, Bengali and North Indian communities live. On Diwali, people decorate their houses with lights and? lamps, signifying the victory of good over evil. In fact the festival is the celebration of the inner light. According to the legend associated with Diwali, it is the day when king Rama of Ayodhya, after a 14-year exile in the forests, came back to his kingdom. During the festival, people wear new clothes, exchange greetings and sweets with each other. Fireworks are enjoyed by all on the festival, especially children.

Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacle are worshiped on the festival.

Full of adventure, thrill and entertainment, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of the most popular festivals of Kerala. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the month of August every year. The fascinating backwaters in Alleppey(Alappuzha) serve as the venue for this grand festival. The festival is named after the first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The winners are awarded a trophy (replica of a snake boat in silver), which was instituted for the first time by the Prime Minister. Sleek and tastefully designed snake boats, around 135 feet in length, are used in the race. Each team - which has more than 100 participants - row the boat in perfect synchronization. No doubt such a job demands devotion and inherent skill. Huge crowds gather at the venue to enjoy the race and to cheer the participants. Colorful water parades held before the race make the environment more cheerful and add more beauty to the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race, like the other boat races in Kerala, portrays the sporting spirit and unique culture of of the state. This fascinating boat race is held on the charming backwaters of? Kochi, a beautiful town in Kerala. Thousands of people congregate on the backwaters to witness such an interesting sport. Such snake boat races play an important role in Kerala tourism, as they attract many tourists from far and wide. The trophy of the race was instituted in the honor of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Around sixteen snake boats with hundreds of participants is a sight to behold.

The waters of the wonderful backwaters of Alappuzha looks miraculous when the Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race is held. This snake boat race is held two weeks after the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. It is organized in the memory of? the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. The trophy awarded to the winners of this boat race is named after him. Such boat races are the biggest source of entertainment for the people of Kerala.

Celebrated with great fervor, Onam is the most important festival of Kerala.? This festival showcases the rich cultural heritage of the state. Tourists from across the world come here to participate in this colorful harvest festival. It is celebrated over a period of 10 days in the month of August/ September every year. The people of Kerala, irrespective of their religious background celebrate this festival with joy. The houses are decorated with flowers and many interesting culinary delights are prepared. Keralites adorn themselves with new colorful dresses; visit temples to receive blessings from the Gods and perform traditional dances such as Thiruvathirakali and Thumbi Tullal. The festival is celebrated in the honor of king Mahabali, the mythical demon king, who once ruled the land. The people of Kerala participate in dance and music with great enthusiasm. The most striking feature of the festival is the Snake Boat Race, held on the mesmerizing backwaters of? Kerala.