Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

[Perfection]

Fairs & Festivals of Kerala 2011

January

01 - New Year Day
02 - Thirunelli temple chuttuvilakku (Wayanad), Feast of St Francis Xavier, Goa
06 - Feast of three kings, Goa
07 - Suchindram Therottam / Car festival (near Nagarkovil) comes in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec/Jan).
10 - Erumeli chandanakudam festival (Kottayam)
11 - Erumeli Petta thulllal
12 - Tiruabharana khosha yatra begins from Panthalam temple
13 - Kanjiramattom Urs (13th & 14th Jan every year), Kottayam flower show (up to 16th).
14 - Sabarimala Makara vilakku: Video (Pathanamthitta), Gujarat kite festival at Ahmedabad
15 - Thypongal (Bull fight/Jellikettu at Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore)
16 - Adoor Parthasarathy temple Gajamela, Mahe Ganapati temple Chariot festival.
17 - Madurai Chariot festival
18 & 19 - Bikaner Camel Festival (Rajasthan)
19 - Pazhani Chariot festival (Tamil Nadu)
20 - Arthunkal feast (Alappuzha) Watch Video, Bangalore (Karnataka) flower show, Thypooyam (7 Feb 2012) : Harippad Sree Subramanya Swami temple ('Kavadi'), Sree Maheswara temple at Koorkanchery (Thrissur), Madurai(Tamil Nadu), Pazhani.
21 - St Sebastian's feast at Kanjoor (Angamaly, Ernakulam) and Bharananganam St Mary's church (Pala, Kotttayam), Cherai Pooram.
24 & 25 - Athirampuzha St Sebastian's festival (Kotttayam)
26 - Republic Day Parade at New Delhi and other state capitals

xx - Kanchipuram festival at Ekambaranathar temple (Tamil Nadu)

Adoor Parthasarathy temple Gajamela

The temple is dedicated to Lord Sree Krishna and is located near the Adoor KSRTC bus stand. During the 10 day festival, 9 majestically caparisoned elephants takes part.

Arattu (holy bath) is ritual connected with the closing of a festival. The idols of deities are carried in a procession to the river for the holy bath. The purified idols are then escorted back to the temple accompanied by a grand elephant pageant, 'panchavadyam', 'nadaswaram' and 'chendamelam'.

Thypooya mahotsavam : A seven day festival is celebrated at Sree Maheswara temple, Koorkanchery (2 km from Thrissur town) in the month of Jan/Feb. This festival is dedicated to Lord Subrahmania, the presiding deity of the temple. The major attraction of this festival is the spectacular Kaavadiyattam. This is a kind of ritual dance carrying a kaavadi, a bow decorated with flowers and colour papers, on one’s shoulders. On the last day a kavadiyattam procession with hundreds of dancers with kavadi (tall ornate structures) is held. The dance can be seen in most of the Subrahmania temples in the state.

Cherai Pooram is held annually during January or February at the Cherai Gowreeshwara temple. 28 caparisoned elephants take part in the pooram. Cherai has a popular beach and is located 6 km from North Paravur (NH 17) in Ernakulam district.

All are requested to contribute information on important festivals with specialties in this thread. Such a festival calendar will be very helpful to all in exploring the amazing festivals in various parts of the world.