March
01 - Paripally Gajamela (23 km from Kollam, 50 caparisoned elephants), Varanad temple Cherthala, Veloorvattom temple Aarat (Cherthala, Alappuzha)
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02 -
Chettikulangara Bharani : Ketttukazcha & Kuthiyottam Vazhipadu (Alappuzha)
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06 - Ettumanoor Aarat
07 -
Guruvayur Elephant race (Anayottam) at 2.30 pm. 34 elephants participated in this race.
09 - 'Makam' at Chottanikkara temple (Ernakulam)
10 -
Attukal Pongala (Thiruvananthapuram, 3 km from city), Lakhs of women devotees participate in the Pongala festival.
12 -
Palluruthy Sree Bhavanishwara temple Aarat of 15 elephants (Ernakulam)
16 - Guruvayur Aarat
19 - Kannamaly church St Joseph festival (Kochi), Kollur Mookambika temple ratholsavam (128 km from Mangalore in Karnataka, Chariot festival)
21 -
Ambalapuzha Natakashala Sadya at 12.30 h (Alappuzha)
22 -
Ambalapuzha Aarat at 5 pm
29 - Kodungalloor Bharani (Thrissur), Alapuzha Pazhaveed temple 'Garudan thookkam'.
Paripally Gajamela or Elephant pageant
The Gajamela of 50 elephants in the month of Feb-Mar is celebraed at Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple, Paripally, 23 km from Kollam
. Unique offering by the devotees in this temple is elephant.
An elephant pageant is usually accompained by the panchavadyam (the traditional five instrument musical ensemble) which works up to a frenzy as the kudamattam ritual (the synchronised changing of the parasols atop the tuskers ) gathers speed.
Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur (33 km from Thrissur) is a major Hindu pilgrim centre. The beginning of the 10 day festival (Feb/Mar) is celebrated with racing of 34 elephants. The 16 th century temple is the most famous temple in Kerala (Hindus only). During the festival, a 5 kg gold 'thidambu' will be displayed. There will be daily performance by drummers - Chendamelam/Pancharimelam etc. The temple has 64 elephants and are kept at an old Zamorin palace, Punnathur Kota.
Pongala is the ritual offering to Goddess Bhagavathy, is a preparation of rice, jaggery, coconut and plantains cooked together, in the temple premises.
Chettikulangara Kettukazcha
Chettikulangara Kuthiyottam Vazhipadu
Chamakkavu kettukazhcha – The huge effigy being taken to the temple on a country boat. Temple is on the banks of Achankovil river in Mavelikkara, Alappuzha. Similar Kettukazcha can be seen at Valiyakulagara, Puthiyakavu, Koyippalli Karazhma, Evoor, Chamakkavu, Vettiyar, Mullikulangara, Malanada etc near Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district.
Kodungallur Bharani festival
At Sri Kurumba Bhagavati temple thousands of oracles clad in red cloth and holding swords rushed to the temple during the 'kavutheendal' ceremony.