FESTIVALS
IN KOCHI
Here’s information about some major fairs
and festivals celebrated in Kochi city of Kerala.
COCHIN FESTIVAL
If there is one festival the whole of Kochi
impatiently awaits every year, then it’s the Cochin Carnival held in the last
week of December. Fort Kochi is decked up like a bride and tourists. Not only
from within the country, but also outside, flock to this lovely port city to
participate in the revelry.
MALAYATOOR PERUNAL
The festival of Malayatoor Perunnal is
celebrated in the months of March /April every year. It falls on the Sunday
after Easter and is organized at the world famous Catholic Church at
Malayatoor, situated near the Cochin city of Kerala.
JEWISH FESTIVALS
There are many stories pertaining to the
migration of Jews to the Cochin city of Kerala.
THALAPOLI
Thalapoli Mahotshavam of Ponneth Devo
Kshethram is held every year in the Malayalam month of Makara Masam, which
usually falls around the month of February. The Thalapoli festival begins on
pooruruttathi and concludes n Bharani and the five days of puja functions take
place in a very grand style.
UTSAVAM
Utsavam is a cultural festival evolved by
the Kerala tourism to position the entire state as an ideal destination among tourists.
As such, the Utsavam comprises a number of traditional art forms of Kerala like
dance, music, and other dance based performances.
ATHACHAMAYAM
Athachmayam , a cultural gala that marks
the beginning of the 10 day Onam festival in Kerala , is a rare chance to enjoy
almost all the folk art forms of God ‘s Own Country. Athachamayam is conducted
every year on the Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam (roughly August
/ September) at the historical town of Thripunithura. The festival, which is
celebrated to commemorate the legendary victory of the Raja (King) of Kochi, is
also an occasion to witness almost all the folk art forms of Kerala.
A colourful procession, which is part of
this festival, reminds the customary procession of the king along with his
entourage to the Thripunithura fort. This was also the occasion for his
subjects to greet the king and see him very close. The procession, though
without the king, still retains its majestic charm and is conducted in a
spectacular manner. Caparisoned elephants, varieties of folk art forms, floats
and musical ensembles together form part of the procession.
Onam, the most popular festival of
Keralalites can be traced to the primitive harvest festival and also to the
myth regarding King Mahabali the benevolent ruler who brought peace and
prosperity to Keralites.
COCHIN CARNIVAL
Time of celebration: last week of December
Main Attractions: A massive procession of Caparisoned elephants, games and
partying. If there is one festival the whole of Kochi impatiently awaits every
year, then it’s the Cochin Carnival held in the last week of December. Fort
Kochi is decked up like a bride and tourists, not only from within the country,
but also outside, flock to this lovely port city to participate in the revelry.
The inception of the Kochi Carnival can be traced back to the Portuguese New
Year revelry, held here during the colonial days. Gradually, it evolved to take
the form of what is today popularly called the Cochin Carnival of Kerala.
