Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

[Perfection]

February

01 - Manapullikavu vela (Palakkad)
03 - Anayadi temple Aarat (Kollam), Aaranmula araat
04 - Chunakkara Kettukazhcha (near Charummudu, Kayamkulam)



08 - Basant Panchami
10 - Srirangapatanam Chariot festival (Mysore)
11 - Makara Bharani - Varanad temple ponkala (near Cherthala, Alappuzha).
13 - Lokanarkavu Uchal (Kozhikode)
14 - Kuruvilangad church festival (Kottayam, up to 16th)
16 - Irijalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple Aarat, Thiruvalla Sri Vallabha Temple Aarat, Guruvayur Elephant race (Festival begins with 'Anayottam') at 2.30 pm. In 2009, 34 elephants participated in this race.
18 - Chinakkathoor Pooram (Palakkad), 'Makam' at Chottanikkara temple (Ernakulam).



19 - Pariyanam Patta pooram (15 km from Ottapalam on the Mannarkad road in Palakkad Dt), Attukal pongala (Thiruvananthapuram), Thirunakkara Aarat (Kottayam).
21 - Ponkuzhy Sree Rama temple thira (Wayanad)
22 - Pisharikavu Kaliyattom (Kozhikode), Machattu Thiruvanikkavu Mamankam (Kuthiravela on 25th, Vadakkancherry, Thrissur).
25 - Guruvayur Aarat, Khajuraho dance festival (up to 2nd Mar)
28 - Thiruvillamala Ekadasi (Palakkad)

Elephant Pageantry at Anayadi

The Anayadi Pazhayidam Sri Narasimha Swami Temple’s principal deity is Narasimha, the lion headed incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The concluding day (Makaram's Thiruonam [Jan-Feb]) of the 10 day long festival is marked by a grand elephant pageantry, in which 80 odd caparisoned tuskers take part. The Anayadi temple is at Kottappuram stop of Kayamkulam - Sasthamkotta road, Kollam. In 2007, 120 elephants take part in this festival according to 'The Hindu' daily.

Pongala is the ritual offering to Goddess Bhagavathy, is a preparation of rice, jaggery, coconut and plantains cooked together, in the temple premises.

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.

Chammanad temple festival (Alappuzha) : Watch Video
Mararikulam temple Aarat (Alappuzha) : Watch Video
Veloorvattom temple Aarat (Alappuzha) : Watch Video