Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Neelamperoor Pooram Padayani is an old Dravidian ritual offering to the Kali Mother Goddess. This great cultural and religious event of central Kerala is celebrated during September-October at Neelamperoor, a village near to Kottayam. This Padayani is celebrated in the Palli Bhagavathi Temple, which has a history of more than 1000 years. Continue reading
The most spectacular event of all Kerala festivals, Onam epitomises a new found vigour and enthusiasm about everything. The festival celebrates the return of King Mahabali, who is said to visit his subjects each year. To convince their beloved King that Kerala continues to be prosperous land of milk and honey people decorate their homes and celebrate to the fullest sometimes even faking prosperity to present a happy and flourishing facade to their King. Continue reading
Photo Credits: Mr. Vijay Mampilly
It’s amazing how often dreams have become reality during my trip to India as a Raxa Collective Management trainee in Thekaddy! In Ghana I have seen religious tribal festivals and seen pictures of the Indian versions in magazines and movies. But it was incredible to have the firsthand experience of seeing devotees as more than masqueraders or people in carefree disguise.
The Devi Temple festival procession–beautiful, colourful and sometimes slightly otherworldly–passed right in front of the Cardamom County entrance gate. I was thrilled to see hundreds of people dressed up in festive mood, joyfully drumming and dancing in convoy following the Devi Shrine toward the gates of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Mutthukkudas are one of the main attraction in Kerala’s religious and political ceremonies, especially at the Thrissur Pooram, the state’s primary festival. During the pooram festival time there is one attraction called kudamattom (exchanging umbrellas) which is the most important aspect of the Trissur Pooram, were hundreds of beautiful long stemmed glittering umbrellas are exchanged rhythmically along with a traditional music orchestra and chenda melam played in the back ground. Continue reading
The Thrissur Pooram is the largest of all the festivals held in Kerala. It is a grand bonanza of colors and sound, native drums and horns plus magnifiicent elephant pageantry which cannot be missed. It normally falls between 15th April and 15th May. The festival takes place over two days and surrounding communities set out with their temple icons in all regalia on caparisoned elephants to the Pooram ground in front of Vadakkumnatha temple located in the city centre.
The festival is famous for the fireworks display that begins in the well past midnight into the second day and can last several hours. The Pakal Pooram (Daylight’s Pooram) staged the next morning is a recap of the main Pooram’s highlights. Continue reading
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