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Kerala is a culturally diverse country with three major religions observed by the residents; Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. Such varied cultures open doors to several festivities that are celebrated together by people of different faiths. Here are a few Kerala festivals that you must experience at least once.
This is a 10-day long celebration held at the Parthasarathy Temple in Adoor. Adoor Gajamela is a ritual where 9 elephants are decorated and paraded in the ceremonial attire while the devotees pray to the gods. The celebrations are huge and magnificent and receive thousands of spectators and devotees every year. If you are visiting Adoor for this festival, then be mindful of your kids and your valuables as the city gets incredibly crowded during these 10 days.
Kerala festivals have fascinating rituals and traditions. The Haripad Temple Festival is one such where you will find yourself in awe of wonderful dance and dangerous stunt performances. Kavadiyattom is a ritualistic dance performed by devotees as they proceed to the temple to offer their prayers. Some perform a tantric dance after piercing their cheeks with long arrows. Though this festival is a one-day affair, it is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
India has plenty of different cultures. These cultures have different celebrations of their own. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the people of India never fail to celebrate various festivals in style.
When it comes to South India, the Pongal festival is an important one. Pongal festival is celebrated all over South India. This is the festival to show gratitude to mother nature. This time is known in Madurai as Jallikattu Bull Festival where men fight with furious bulls. In North India, this day is regarded as Makar Sankranti. This article discusses Pongal as the main festival of which state and how it is celebrated.
What is the Pongal festival ? Pongal festival is a four-day-long harvest festival. It is celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu. In a way, Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu . This festival generally is observed during January and February. The Sun God is hailed through this festival, along with several animals who assist in farming.
According to Tamil people, this particular time of the year is known as Thai. This is the harvesting time for important crops. These include rice, turmeric, and sugarcane. The Pongal festival also goes by the name of the Thai Festival.
As per the Tamil language, the word Pongal has come from the word Pongu. It means to boil over. They celebrate the Pongal festival as a means of overflowing with success and progress in life.
Pongal is one of the most significant Hindu festivals, not only in Tamil Nadu but in other parts of South India also. States like Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Pondicherry celebrate Pongal as well.
Pongal also signifies the completion of the cultivation season. Farmers dont have to go back to their farming lands in these four days. They worship mother nature for providing a good harvest.
The history of the Pongal festival goes way back. It is one of the oldest festivals of ancient India. It is known to be the Dravidian harvest festival. In Sanskrit Puranas, there are also several instances of Pongal. The instance of this festival is so old that it goes back 2,000 years.
Since the Sangam Age, this festival has been an integral part of Indian festivities. At that time Goddess Katyani was worshipped in the month of Margazhi. This became the modern-day Pongal festival.
Legend has it that long ago God Shiva ordered Basava, a bull, to deliver a message to humans. The message was that humans need to take showers and an oil massage every day but to consume food once a month. Unfortunately, the bull delivered the message all wrong. He said that they need to eat every day and take showers and oil messages only once a month. Lord Shiva got furious. He banished Basava to earth. He was ordered to assist the mortals to produce food.
According to another legend, Lord Krishna once lifted Mount Govardhan to teach a lesson to Lord Indra.
The very first day of the Pongal festival is known as Bhogi Pongal. This day in particular signifies a new beginning. People throw away old belongings. They wear new clothes. They rise early in the morning and discard their useless belongings on a bonfire.
The Sun God, aka Surya, is worshipped on the second day of Pongal. This is the most important day of the festival as well. Women decorate houses with white rice powder, also known as Kolam. They take shower. Then rice, milk, and raw sugar cane are boiled together in an earthen pot. This is called Pongal. Pongal boils, and people excitedly chant Pongal O Pongal. Thai Pongal is offered to the Sun God.
On this day, useful farm animals like cows, and ox are worshipped. People bathe them. They decorate their horns with garlands, beads, and bells. The Prasad Pongal is then served to them as a means of worshipping so that they can help more with farming.
The last day of Pongal is known as Kaanum Pongal. On this day sugarcane is served to the Sun God. People gather around to show strength and unity. Older family members bless the younger ones with a healthy life.
There are many festivals celebrated during the year in Tamil Nadu which includes Thaipusam Festival , Karthigai Deepam , Thiruvaiyaru Festival , Natyanjali Dance Festival , Chitri Rai Festival , etc.
Throughout the four-day-long Pongal festival, people cook a variety of recipes. Some of the best South Indian dishes are enjoyed at the time of the festival. All recipes are cooked in an earthen pot and dedicated to deities.
Sakkarai Pongal is a popular Pongal festival food. It is cooked on the day of Surya Pongal. Rice is boiled with milk, moong dal, ghee, and jaggery. When it spills over, people shout Pongal o Pongal. Then it is served to the deities. People eat it thereafter as prasad.
Khara Pongal is a popular and spicy Pongal festival dish. In this recipe, in place of sweet ingredients, green chillies, black pepper, cashews, and curry leaves are used.
In this recipe, rice is boiled with curry leaves, spices, and lemon juice. This recipe is mainly served on the day of Kaanum Pongal. It tastes best when consumed with pickles or curd.
Chakra Pongal is cooked with harvested rice, plenty of desi ghee, dry fruits, and jaggery. This delicious sweet recipe is mandatory for the Pongal festival. First, it is served to the Sun God to show gratitude.
Rava Pongal is a quite popular breakfast recipe across South India. It is normally prepared with semolina, moong dal, spices, herbs, green peas, and cashews. It can be paired with coconut chutney to get a great taste.
There are many tasty South Indian dishes every person must want to eat. All the famous restaurants in Tamil Nadu will serve some delicious dishes which include Masala Dosa , Kari Dosai , Elaneer Payasam , Nethili Fish Fry , Kothu Parotta , Sundal, Meen Kozhambu , etc.
This is yet another festival with strange rituals. Devotees run around the temple in a trance, hitting themselves with swords to proclaim their communion with the gods. This entire ritual is called Kaavu theendal and is held at the Kondugallur Bhagavati temple.
Onam is the main festival of Kerala. It is celebrated over a period of 10 days that start days before the actual festival day. It is one of the most famous festivals of Kerala and is celebrated in the monsoon season, around August. To witness the festivities in all their glory visit Kochi, Trivandrum, Thrissur and Kottayam. Locals celebrate Onam by decorating their corridors with flowers, festive feasts, dance and snake boat races. The Atham, which is the final day of festivities, starts with an early morning bath followed by prayers. At Thrikkakara temple in Kochi, celebrations commence on the Atham day and continue for 10 days with music and dance performances.
This 7-day long festival celebrated at the Sree Vishwanathaswamy Temple in Kalapathy is known as the chariot festival of Kerala. Massive chariots are taken around the town for seven days to worship the lord from this 700-year-old temple.
Paikuni is a summer festival celebrated in the month of March or April. The celebrations primarily comprise of prayers to Lord Padmanabha.
Summers are a wonderful time to catch up on one more of the famous festivals of Kerala. Vishu is yet another summer festival celebrated in Kerala to mark the commencement of a New Year. Vishu is celebrated in April or May and is an important Kerala festival, and unlike other festivals, is celebrated with sobriety. The Sadhya or traditional meal is the highlight.
The uniqueness of this festival is that it is celebrated by people of all castes and religions in Kerala. Though it is celebrated at the Thrissur temple, people of different faiths participate in this Kerala festival. The sight of elephant processions and drummers is breath-takingly spectacular. Celebrated in the month of April, witnessing this grand festival should be a must-do on your bucket list.
Twenty percent of the population in Kerala is Catholic. Christmas is one of the important festivals celebrated here with gusto. Kerala is home to beautiful cathedrals and churches where you can witness traditional Christmas celebrations.
Cities like Kochi, Trivandrum, Kovalam and Munnar host huge celebrations. Visit some popular churches in the state such as St. Mary Cathedral, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, St. Francis and St. George Ferona to celebrate Christmas the Kerala way. Even if you are not in any of these cities, take a stroll around wherever you are in Kerala to see beautifully designed cribs and treat yourself to some delicious Christmas cakes.
Ramzan is one of the biggest celebrations in Kerala. After a month of fasting and prayers, people visit their family and friends to exchange gifts and celebrate the month of Ramzan. With a grand feast that includes various festive delicacies, the celebrations are a dream experience for a foodie.
This is festival is celebrated in the renowned Sree Subramanya Swamy temple in Haripad which is home to the snake god, the famous Nagaraja. The temple has about 30,000 images of snake gods. This festival is celebrated in the month of September or October to worship and please the god of snakes.
In India, the snake is a sign of virality and change. Hence, snakes are considered a good omen by many Indian communities. The idols in the temple are taken out for religious processions during this festival and the devotees in the town offer rice flour mixed with milk, and a red drink made of turmeric and lime.
Now that you have the Kerala festival list, go on and prepare to join the festivities! SOTC has a bouquet of Kerala travel packages that will fulfil your itinerary any time during the year.
