Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

[Perfection]

June

Early June - Shimla Summer Festival (Himachal Pradesh)
02 - Ajmer Urs fair, Kottiyur Revathi aaradhana : Hindu pilgrim centre in Kannur dist. It is 2 hour by bus from Thalassery via Koothuparambu. Oodapoo is the prasad.
08 - Kottiyur Makam varavu
13 - Kanyakumari Aarat
16 & 17 - Ochira kali (Near Kayamkulam in Kollam Dt.)



23 - Sant Tukaram Yatra begins on 23rd June. The Pandharpur Palki yatra from Dehu near Pune ends on the previous day of Ashadhi Ekadasi at Pandharpur Vithoba Temple in Maharashtra (21 days, up to 10th July). Ashadhi Ekadasi is celebrated on 11th July.
24 - Sao Joao Feast, Goa (24th June every year)
29 - Amarnath Yatra, Jammu Kashmir (up to 13 Aug)

July

03 - Puri Rath Yatra (Orissa)
06 - Chidambaram Chariot festival
10 & 11 - Hemis Festival (Ladakh)
14 - Champakulam moolam boat race (accessible from Alappuzha)
15 - Guru Purnima
28 - St Alphonsa's feast at St Mary's church Bharananganam (near Pala, Kottayam).
30 - Karikidavavu at Varkala, Tirunavaya (Malappuram), Tirunelli (Wayanad), Ponkuzhy Sree Rama temple & Sankhumukham beach (Thiruvananthapuram), Tiruvambadi Sree Krishna temple Alappuzha.



August

02 - Teej, is a fasting festival for Hindu Women, mainly celebrated in Jaipur.
04 - Nag Panchami (West Bengal)
13 - Nehru Trophy Boat race at Punnamada lake (Alappuzha, Second Saturday of August at 2 pm), Raksha Bandhan.
15 - Independence Day parade at New Delhi and other State capitals, Aarattupuzha Aarat near Thrissur, Sitabari fair (117 km from Kota).
20 - Aranmula boat race near Chengannur
21 - Sree Krishna Jayanti (Janmashtami) : Guruvayur, Thrissur Thiruvambadi temple, Ambalapuzha temple (Alappuzha) - Shobha yatra
27 - Kayamkulam boat race (Alappuzha Dt)
31 - Tripunithura Attachamayam (Ernakulam), Nag Panchami (Adiesha Temple in Andhra Pradesh, Nagathamman Temple in Chennai, Hardevja Temple in Jaipur).

Elankavu Attuvela (2 days, Vadayar near Vaikom)
Metemneo Festival in second week of August, Nagaland

Athachamayam

This is a colorful procession with caparisoned elephants, colourful floats and some of the awesome art forms of Kerala including Theyyam, Panchavadyam, Chendamelam, Pambamelam, Karakattam, Mayilattom, Ammankudam and Aattakavadi and Pulikali. One can also have a look on the pookkalams, floral decorations to welcome King Mahabali (Maveli), who is believed to have ruled the land, according to mythology. Celebrated at Thripunithura near Kochi during Onam Season.



Chundan vallams or snake boats are narrow boats over 30 m long, with a raised prow that stands 3 m above water and resembles the hood of a snake. Traditionally these were used by local rulers to transport soldiers during waterfront wars. In modern times, it has spawned a new sport – the Vallam Kali (boat race). Each 'chundan vallam' accommodates about a hundred muscular oarsmen.

Boat races are occasions of great excitement and entertainment with thousands gathered on the banks to watch and cheer. Most of these races are held in the Kuttanad region of Alappuzha.

Nehru Trophy Boat race

When Jawaharlal Nehru visited Kerala in 1952, four traditional chundan valloms went to receive him. A snake boat race was organised for him. He was so impressed that when he went back to Delhi, he sent back a gleaming silver trophy for a boat race. Even today, the 1.5 km Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most prestigious. It is held during the Onam harvest festival in August in Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha.

The types of boats take part in this competition includes the bean-shaped boats, Kitetailed, curly-headed and so on. Between 30 and 60 metres long with tall, cone shaped, tapering helms protruding several metres above water and accommodating 100 or more at the oars, these boats of exquisite elegance plough the water with the rhythm of drums and cymbals and legendary songs, typical of Kerala. Above each boat gleam scarlet silk umbrellas as the boats go in procession in the backwaters and rivers of a Kerala, which remind one of the sea-faring and martial traditions of ancient Kerala.

Other renowned boat races are Indira Gandhi Boat Race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race (near Ambalapuzha), Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali (near Chengannur), Payippad Jalotsavam (near Harippad), Kottayam boat race (Tazhathangady near Kottayam).