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Pooram is the festival of festivals. Pooram is a remarkable event when the gods and goddess arrive on splendidly adorned tuskers for a celebration. The festival is a spectacle of magnificence and majesty. Ten to hundred caparisoned tuskers stand in front of the temple premises with the mahouts atop holding ornate silk umbrellas, white tufts and peacock feather fans, all swaying to the rhythm of the music. Some of the main Pooram celebrations are at are Aratupuzha, Thrissur, Uthralikavu, Cheeramkulangara, Pariyanampetta, Mannarkad, Perumanam, Aryankavu, Mangottu, Medamkulangara, Kodikal, Thirumandhamkunnu etc. Thrissur Pooram
is most famous among them.
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Kerala is a land of colorful festivals and fairs, which are inherited from
an age old tradition that exudes the essence of Kerala. Kerala, God’s Own
Country is a paradise of mind blowing cultural festivals. Enjoy the magic
colors of Kerala festivals. Explore the religious festivals of Kerala and
Kerala festival tours.
Onam is the most popular of Kerala’s festivals ranging from 4 days to 10
days. But, there is a lot more to Onam than being just a festival. Onam
reflects the faith of the people of Kerala. It honors Mahabali, a ruler whose subjects so content that envious gods tricked him into losing
his life and kingdom. His last wish was to visit his people once a year to
ensure that they were happy. During Onam, an aura of plenty is created to
gladden Mahabali’s heart. Great feasts are prepared, new clothes worn, and
courtyards are decorated with floral patterns. The renowned snake boat races
are held at this time.
The annual snake boat races are usually held during the second week of
August. Snake boat races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest
festival in August/September. The 50 m long wooden boats, each powered by
over 100 oarsmen, attract the star attention as they slice through the
waters - revived by songs and war cries - cheered by thousands of spectators
line up the banks to cheer the huge black crafts as they slice through the
waters to a spectacular finish.
Vishu is the first day of the Malayali New Year. It is believed that looking
upon a group of auspicious objects at dawn ensures a year of peace and
prosperity. Begin an auspicious day; it is a common belief that the fortune
of the coming year depends on the first day. So the first day begins with
ceremony of Kani Kanal, which literally means first sight. At the dawn, the
Malayali's begin the first day of the Year by waking up in front of Kani.
The Kani includes gold ornament, white cloth, a measure of rice or paddy,
bell metal mirror, flowers of the Konna tree (Cussia fistula), halved jack
fruits, halved coconuts, yellow cucumber, and two standing oil lamps
emitting sparkling light their eyes. Another interesting feature of this day
is Kaayi neetal where the elder members in the family gift money to the
younger ones.
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