Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

[Perfection]

March

01 - Uthralikavu pooram (Wadakancherry)
02 - Shivaratri (Aluva), Thripunithura Aarat, Natyanjali festival at Chidambaram (TN, 5 days from Shivratri day), Padanilam Kettukazcha (near Charummudu, Kayamkulam, Shivaratri), Kanichukulangara temple fireworks (Alappuzha, Shivaratri) : Watch Video.
04 - Vavu : Thirunavaya, Ponkuzhy Sree Rama temple, Thirunelli
05 - Goa Carnival (up to 8th, Panaji), Losar (Tibetan New Year, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh)
06 - Paripally Gajamela (Kollam)
10 - Chettikulangara Bharani : Kettukazcha & Kuthiyottam Vazhipadu (Alappuzha) Watch Video
11 - Puthiyakavu ponkala (Kollam)
12 - Ezharaponnana Darshan at Ettumanoor Mahadevar temple (Seven and half elephants - one small - made of 13 kg gold donated by Maharaja of Travancore will be displayed, 11 km from Kottayam)
14 - Aarat & Ezharaponnana Darshan at Ettumanoor Mahadevar temple on the Thiruvathira day, Pandalam kettukazcha
15 - Peruvanum pooram (Thrissur)
18 - Mannarkad pooram (Palakkad), Arattupuzha Pooram Video (71 gaily caparisoned elephants with Panchavadyam at Thrissur)
19 - Panguni Uthiram (Palani, Mylapore, Madurai), Kannamali church St Joseph's festival (Kochi, 19th March), Sabarimala Aarat, Palluruthy Sree Bhavanishwara temple Aarat of 15 elephants (Ernakulam)
20 - Holi, Elephant festival at Jaipur
26 - Kollur Mookambika temple Ratholsavam (135 km north of Mangalore, Karnataka)
28 - Ambalapuzha Natakashala Sadya at 12.30 h (Alappuzha)
29 - Ambalapuzha Aarat

Pattambi Nercha, is held in memory of Aloor Valiya Pookunjikoya Thangal, a Muslim saint. The mosque is near the Pattambi railway station. Around 100 caparisoned elephants participated in the late night procession accompanied by Panchavadyam, Thayambaka and folk art forms.
xx - Othara Padayani at Puthukulangara Devi Temple, 7 km from Chengannur.

Peruvanum pooram : On the festival day (Mar/Apr, 12 km from Thrissur), sumptuously decorated elephants accompanied by scores of drummers will be the main attraction.

Arattupuzha Pooram : The temple is dedicated to Sree Ayyappa. On the sixth day of the seven day festival at Arattupuzha temple, (Mar/Apr, 14 km from Trissur), 61 gaily caparisoned elephants gather in the temple grounds, accompanied by the temple music of Panchavadyam, nadaswaram, pacharimelam and pandimelam.

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 accompanied 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.

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.

Video