Temple festivals of Kerala
Kerala which is often referred to as 'God's Own Country' has a large number of Hindu temples. Many of the temples have unique traditions and most hold festivals on specific days of the year. Temple festivals usually continue for a number of days. A common characteristic of these festivals is the hoisting of a holy flag which is then brought down only on the final day of the festival. Some festivals include Poorams, the most famous of these being the Thrissur Pooram. Temples that can afford it will usually involve at least one richly caparisoned elephant as part of the festivities. The idol of the God in the temple is taken out on a procession around the countryside atop this elephant. When the procession visits homes around the temple, people will usually present rice, coconuts, and other offerings to the God. Processions often include traditional music such as Panchari melam or Panchavadyam.
The major Hindu temple festivals in the state are Makaravilakku at Sabarimala, Thaippooyakavadi at Keezhattingal Subrahmnya swami temple,Attingal, Nenmara Vallangi Vela, Thrissur Pooram, Attukal Pongala in Trivandrum's famous Attukal Temple, Vrishchikotsavam in Tripunithura Sree Poornathrayeesa temple, Utsavams in Padmanabha swami temple at Trivandrum, Ashtami at Vaikom temple, Kodungalloor Bharani, Chettikulangara Bharani at Mavelikkara, Guruvayoor Anayottam, Chottanikkara Makam and Sivarathri festival in Aluva temple and Padanilam temple at Mavelikkara, Maradu Thalappoli at Maradu.
- Major temple festivals
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Makaravilakku | Sabarimala |
| Thrissur Pooram | Thrissur |
| Chinakkathoor Pooram | Chinakkathoor Temple, Ottapalam |
| Attukal Pongala | Attukal Temple, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Irupethettam Onam | Oachira Temple |
| Vrishchikotsavam | Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Tripunithura |
| Utsavams | Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Ashtami | Vaikom Temple, Kodungalloor Bharani |
| Chembai Sangeetholsavam | Guruvayoor |
| Maha Shivaratri | Aluva Temple, Maradu |
| ponkalamaholsavam | Anikkattilammakshethram, Mallappally |
| Thiruvabharana Ghoshayathra | Valiyakoickal Temple, Pandalam |
| Vela | Nenmara, Vallanghy |
