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| Fairs
and Festivals |
Onam|Vishu
| Navarathri | Christmas
| Easter |
Ramadan |
Eid-Ul-Fitr
| Eid-Ul-Zuha | Milad-Ul-Nabi
| Muharram
| Boat Races
| Erumeli
Pettathullal | Vaikathashtami | Ezharapponnana
| Puthuppalli Chandanakkudam |
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Among
the innumerable festivals that take place all
over Kerala, almost all the prominent ones are
connected with religious institutions. The 'Utsavams'
of the Hindu temples and the 'Perunals' of
Christian and Muslim churches are of utmost importance
to the community. There are certain festivities
like the boat races, which originated to commemorate
religious events but subsequently turned out to
be events of social importance. |
The
colorful mosaic of Kerala festivals
and fairs is as diverse as the
land, is an expression of the spirit
of celebration, that is an essential
part of the State. Observed with
enthusiasm and gaiety, festivals are
like gems, ornamenting the crown of
Kerala tradition and culture.
Round the year, the fests are vibrant
interludes in the mundane flow of life
in Kerala. |
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Every
season turns up new festivals, each a true celebration
of the bounties of nature. The festivals
exhibits an eternal harmony of spirit. Packed
with fun and excitement, festivals are occasions
to clean and decorate houses, to get together
with friends and relatives and to exchange gifts. |
New
attire, dance, music and ritual, all add to their
joyful rhythm. It is a time for prayer,
for pageantry and processions.....a time to rejoice.
The important fairs and festivals in the state
are: |
| Onam-The National Festival of Kerala |
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Kerala's
most important festival, honouring King Mahabali,
a mythological king of ancient Kerala, whose period
was reckoned as the golden age in the history
of the state. He was the embodiment of virtues,
goodness, so was his regime which was marked by
equality and harmony among people. |
The
golden age was abruptly ended when Mahabali
was unseated by Vamana,
the dwarf incarnation of Vishnu. However,
Vamana was lenient
to accede Mahabali's request
that he be permitted to visit the land
and his people once a year. The
time allowed for the visit was the 10th
lunar day in the month of Chingam,
(first Malayalam month, August- September).
His visit is celebrated as Onam which
sync with the harvest season in Kerala. |
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The 10-days festival is supposed
to begin from the lunar asterism Atham and culminate
in asterism Thiruvonam. |
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Onam
is marked by festivity. Keralites bash
up the day. Ornate flower carpet is
laid in the front yard of every house.
Special prayers are offered in temples.
Delicious dinner is the USP of Onam
celebration. Traditional food is served
on plantain leaves. An emotional string
is attached to this festival since Keralites
living elsewhere in the world make it
a point to reach their native place
to join the gala. |
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| Vishu |
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Vishu,
the equinox, is one of the important
festivals of Kerala. It is in the middle
of April. According to the Hindu traditional
Malayalam calendar, the New Year begins
this day. 'Kani Kanal',
the auspice first sight at the beginning
of the year, is the main ritual. In
the wee hours of Vishu day, the lady
of the house arrange the Kani. Coconuts,
fruits, cereals, a mirror and Konna
flower are placed in big Bronze pan
before the garlanded icon of Krishna.
Oil lamps are lit around the deity.
Before dawn the master of the house
is ushered to sight of the Kani, the
auspice 'once in a year' sight of the
Lord, amidst fruits, food and finance
looking into the future, followed by
the rest of the family and Children
who are brought blind folded from their
beds to the site of Kani. |
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The
eldest in the family gives silver coins to youngsters
and bless them. It is believed that the auspice
sight of Kani and receipt of money by dawn, the
first thing in the New Year bring happiness and
prosperity fo the whole year. In Kerala the Kani
of the idols in Guruvayur, Ambalapuzha and Sabarimala
temples are considered much more auspicious. |
| Navarathri |
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This is the Durga Puja of
Bengal, Dussera of Bombay, the
Saraswati Puja and the Ayudha Puja
of the south. It is festival of 9
nights consummating on the tenth day morning of
which the last three days, eighth day Durga
Ashtami, NIneth Mahanavami and Tenth
Vijaya Dasami are observed with all
gaiety. By dusk on Durga Ashtami, all Hindu houses
prepare a special altar for conducting offerings
for Saraswati, the goddess of learning.
This is called 'Puja Vayppu'. It consist
in decorating a room splendidly, illuminating
it with many lights and arranging on a raised
altar in the middle of the room, filled with offerings
and sacraments to Saraswati, the goddess
of learning. Books and weapons of various kinds
are tastefully arranged and a picture or image
of the goddess placed in the centre. The worship
then commences with accompaniment of music. This
goes on night and day till the morning of the
third day, when the 'Puja Eduppu',
consummation of the Puja takes place. After the
performance of special religious service, the
arrangements on the platform are formally removed
and the Puja ends. Then follows the 'Vidyarambham'
or the beginning of learning. On the last
three days of Puja, all sorts of learning are
kept in abeyance; no one will read or write or
do any handicraft with any material. Every sort
of business is at a stand still. At the consummatiuon
of Puja, work commences. During the Puja Vayppu
people generally fast. |
| Mahasivarathri |
Mahasivarathri the great night of Siva is
celebrated in Kumbam (February- March). It commemorates
the day on which Lord Siva consumed the deadly
poison Kalakuta to save the world from destruction.
The day is celebrated by offering special
pooja and ablutions of idols and the presentation
of cultural programmes in all the Siva Temples.
The Annual Sivarathri Festival held on the banks
of Periyar at Alwaye is one of the most spectacular
local festivals of Kerala, which attracts thousands
of pilgrims from all over the State. It has been
compared to the Kumbamela at Prayag. |
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