Major Festivals in Kerala

Kerala is renowned for its colorful festivals. With a huge mass of different religions, Kerala has a festival in almost every day of a year. Festivals in Kerala are an integral part of the social and cultural structure and every community and every religion has something to celebrate all throughout the year. To start with listing the festivals, Onam should be mentioned first of all as it is the most important festival to every Keralite. This is a festival that every Keralite celebrates irrespective of their castes and religion. The festival of Onam shares its significance with the traditional culture of Kerala. This is a celebration that usually lasts for a period of 10 days. It is celebrated in the month of August when monsoon gives way to autumn.

The festival of vishu is related with the beginning of a new year according to the Malayalam calendar. This festival is celebrated in hope of a pleasant and happy new year. This is also one of the popular festivals of Kerala that is celebrated irrespective of caste and religion. I wonder why all such festivals are celebrated by the whole population of Kerala but nowhere else in the whole world without the barriers of religion and caste coming in between them. May be it's because of the unity and peace loving nature of Keralites. Vishu usually falls in the month of April and it is considered good to view good things on this day to have a year round of fortune and happiness.

Thrissur pooram is one of the most spectacular festivals in Kerala that a tourist must experience while travelling through the state. With every passing year Thrissur pooram, the temple festival attracts a huge mass of devotees and spectators from all over India. Caparisoned elephants and exchange of parasols are virtual feasts to anybody's eyes. The dazzling and long lasting fireworks that submerge the entire city of Trichur is an experience of a lifetime for any spectator. The back waters of Kerala apart from being excellent tourist spots are also the venue for splendid boat races in Kerala. The boat race festival is a festival that fills any mind with enthusiasm and joy. Boat races in Kerala are a part of the culture and they represent the team spirit, integrity and amity of the people living here. The event is telecasted on national television due to its increased visual quotient. Large amounts of tourists gather at the boat racing venue and cheer for the teams that they support apart from enjoying the spectacular view.

Christmas is also celebrated in full intensity in Kerala like anywhere in the world as the population here comprises of a large community of Christians. The main festivals in Kerala during the month of December are Christmas and New Year like it is in most parts of the world. Celebration of Eid also plays a significant role in the festivals of Kerala as the celebration of every religion is a celebration to a keralite too.