Kerala wakes up to some festival or the other everyday of the year. These festivals are the only occassions when the classical, folk and ritual arts of the state come alive. The date of the festival change every year according to the indegenous malayalam calendar.

Onam Week Celebration

Onam is the annual harvest festival of Kerala. Celebrations are on for 10 days, begining with the Atham day of the Malayalam month Chingam.

Festival highlights:* Floral decorations * Elephant processions * Thiruvathirakali * Classical and Folk dance performances * Classical and Folk musical recitals * Cultural paegants * Water carnivals.


Tourism Week Celebrations

A secular festival that brings together the thirteen communities living in Kochi. The entire city is illuminated with colourful lights through the week.

Festival highlights:* Colourful inaguration on the 26th* Food festival* Procession of theme floats* Gajamela* Music concerts* Jalamela* Cultural programmes* Indira Gandhi boat race on the 28th* Carnival rally on the 1st of January.

Athachamayam

Events to mark the begining of the Onam festival on the Atham day of the malayalam month Chingam at Thripunithara, Kochi.

Festival highlights:* Spectacular procession of caparisoned elephants* Colourful floats
* Musicalensembles* Theyyam* Panchvadyam* Chendamelam* Pambamelam * Karakattam* Mayilattom* Ammankudam* Attakavadi* Pulikali* Kaduvakali * Parijamuttukali* Kolkali.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race - punnamadakayal at Allappuzha

This, the greatest event on the backwaters of Kerala,is held on the second saturday of August every year. Magnificant snake boats compete for the prized trophy which was instituted by Jawahal Nehru, the first prime minister of India.

Festival highlights:* Commercial water processions* Spectacular water floats * Decorated boats* Vanchipattu* Races of smaller country crafts* The chundan vallom race.


Champakulam Boat Race - at Haripad, Alappuzha.
This is the oldest and one of the most popular boat races of Kerala.This event is closely connected to the Sree Krishna Swamy Temple at Ambalappuzha. The race is held on the Champakulam Lake on the Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Temple.

Festival highlights:* Cerimonial water procession* Waterfloats* Decorated boats *Vanchippattu.

Aranmula Vallamkali - (10km. from Chengannur), Alappuzha
This traditional boat race conducted at Sree Parthasaradhy Temple. Aranmula is in connection with the Onam celebration is more of a water feasta than a competition.

Thrissur Pooram - at thekkinkadu maithanam, Thrissur

Since the word 'Pooram' literarly means a group or a meeting, it was beleived that every year the dynastic Gods and Godesses of neighbouring provinces met together for a day of celebrations. This is usually happend along the pooram asterism of one of the spring months.

Festival highlights:* Pegeant of 30caparisoned elephants assembled in the precincts of the Vadkkunathan temple* The nearby Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples are also participate in thefestival* Kudamattom* Panchavadyam* Chendamelam * Spectacular fire works display.


Gramam (The Kerala village fair) - at Eve's beach Kovalam
An entire Kerala village is recreated by the beach, during this 10 day long festival. The traditional Naalukettu and its premises become the venue of the fair, where the culture, arts and crafts of Kerala come alive. The village tea shop serves typical Kerala couisine.

Festival highlights:* Arts & Crafts fair* Kathakali* Thiruvathirakali* Mohinyattam
* Oppana* Kalarippayattu* Sarpapattu* Theyyam* Kummattikali* Kakkarasinatakam
* Panchavadyam* Chakyarkoothu* Ottanthullal

Swathi sangitholsavam - at Kuthiramalika Palace, Thiruvanthapuram
The annual classical musical festival is organised by the Govt. of Kerala. The seven day musical fest is conducted in honour of great poet King of the earstwhile Travancore dynasty- Swathi Thirunal Ramavarma- who composed most of his work in this Palace.
Festival highlights: * An august gathering of eminent musicians from across India present Indian classical music in the lamp it precincts of the Palace.

Nishagandhi Dance Festival - at Nishagandhi open air theatre, Tvm
A week long festival of Indian classical dances.

Festival highlights :* Kathakali* Mohiniyattam* Bharathanatyam* Kathak* Kuchippudi
* Manipuri* Odissi* Specially coreographed ballet combining one or more of these classical dance forms.

Malabar Maholstavam - at Kozhikode

A cultural extravaganza that showcases the centuries old rich cultural heritage of India.

Festival highlights:* Classical dances* Musical concerts* Ritual art performances Food festival featuring the local delecacies* Fireworks display.


Malabar Pepper Fest - at Kozhikode
This is an annual event and a rallying point for people in the spice trade from all over the world, gourments and gastronomic experts to explore the spice cost. The fair is conducted during the pepper harvest season.

Handicrafts Heritage - Kerala at Kanakakunnu Palace, Tvm
This week long exhibition and sale of handicrafts is conducted in connection with the All India Handicraft Week Celebration to honour the thousands of the traditional craftsman every year