Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

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Pulikali

The colorful display of the folk art at the time of Onam in Kerala in the form of dance and performances are termed as Pulikali. The art also known as Kaduvaakali is a 200 year old form which has been very carefully preserved by the artists of the state. The form is performed by the trained artists who stage it just to entertain the locals and the visitors. The word Pulikali literally means the 'play of the tigers' so the performance revolves around the theme of tiger hunting.

This folk art is mainly staged and practiced in the district of Thissur and Palakkad. The best place to catch the glimpse of the performance is the Swaraj Ground at Thrissur on the fourth day of Onam. The make-up for the show is a painstaking affair with the artists getting themselves ready from the late hours of the night.

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Fire walk, Aadikumpara temple in Kannur district, Kerala. During Muharam celebrations, one can watch fire walk at Hopset near Guntakkal in Karnataka.

Fire walk is a ritual performed during festivals and other auspicious occasions in temples. Devotees after taking a bath would run over a specially prepared fire pit in the temple premises. While in some places the fire place would be in the ground level at several other places it would be a heap of amber.

Guinness World Records : Gary Shawkey (USA) walked 50.29 m over embers of cedar wood, with an average temperature of 982.22 ºC at the Central Florida Fair in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 4 March 2000.

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Event Date : 2-03-2010

The annual festival at the Sree Ruthira Mahakaalikavu Temple, near Wadakkancherry, Thrissur district, is dedicated to Goddess Kali, is the most famous event in the region and is called the Uthralikavu Pooram.

On the pooram day, 21 elephants in traditional caparisons line up with colourful parasols, swaying venchamarams (white tufts like those used for cheerleading) and Aalavattams (peacock-feather fans). Traditional musical ensembles like the Panchavadyam and the Pandimelam add rhythm to this magical spectacle. The cultural fare during the festival includes temple and folk art performances.

How to Reach

Nearest railway station: Wadakkancherry, about 4 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 58 km from Thrissur.

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Festivals

At the end of January comes Adivasi Mela, a fair that displays the art, artifacts, tradition, culture, and music of the tribal folks of Orissa.

The main festivals in Bhubaneshwar are the Durga Puja, Janmashtami and Kali Puja.On the day of Ashokashtami in the month of March, the image of Lingaraja (Lord Shiva) and other deities are taken in a procession from Lingaraja Temple to the Rameshwara Temple. Hundreds of devotees participate in pulling the chariot that carries the deities, which remain in Rameshwara Temple for four days.

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Travel to Goa in February

Carnival in Goa usually starts off on Sabado Gordo (Fat Saturday) and concludes on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) - the eve of Ash Wednesday (February 17, 2010), which is the first day of the season of Lent.

Carnival is a time for gallivanting. Singing, dancing and masked people mark the uproarious and flamboyant Goan celebration.

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Feast of St Francis Xavier: The festival marks the day when St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, was buried. Attended by over two lakh devotees from across the world, it is celebrated every year on 3rd of December.

Of the 40 lovely beaches in Goa, the most developed beach segment is the Calangute - Baga - Anjuna belt north of Panaji.

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Pongal (is the harvesting festival of Tamil Nadu in mid Jan. Jallikattu, the bullfight is held on the last day known as Kannum Pongal. Jallikattu can be witnessed best in Madhurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore )

Chithirai Festival - Madurai
Dance Festivals- Mamallapuram
Natyanjali Dance Festival (February-March on Shivratri day at Chidambaram, 5 days)
Mahamagam Festival
Aurbathimoovar Festival
Summer Festivals
Saral Vizha (Kuttalm or Courtallm)
Kanthuri festival (Held at the shrine of Saint Quadirwali in July/August)
Kavadi festival
Velankanni festival (September
Navrathri
Karthigai Deepam (a festival of lamps in November - December, Nov 21, 2010, mainly at Thiruvannamalai)
Thyagaraja Music Festival

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Kavadi Festival of Tamil Nadu : Devotees undergoes to offer his prayers to Lord Muruga is known as the Kavadi. A Kavadi is a generally a wooden stick, which has two baskets hanging from it. The Kavadi that is carried by the bearers in their shoulders may vary in shapes and sizes. The Kavadis are adorned with peacock feathers and numerous brass bells. The two baskets are usually filled with rice, milk or any other things, which the devotee has promised to offer the Lord in his Vow.

One of the most difficult Kavadi offerings is the Agni Kavadi, where the devotee has to walk over a pit of burning coals while carrying the Kavadi. It is believed, the amount of virtue one receives by performing the Kavadi is million time greater than the pain he suffers.

The Kavadi Festival is celebrated at all shrines of Lord Murugan and all over the state of Tamil Nadu in April / May. Among the many Kavadi venues, the Ettukudi Kavadi festival (30 km south west of Nagapattinam) is the most celebrated one.

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More than 10,000 kavadis come to the temple on the Thaipooyam day. It is the birthday of Lord Subramanya in the Makaram month's pooyam.

Many strangely and ghastly traditions, like the lips pierced with mini silver lance, and locking of the mouth with metal ring to maintain perfect silence and drawing of small make shift chariot with its chain hooked into the back of devotees strike the eye of spectator during the festival.

A hundred thousand people tonsure their heads.

The main festival at Palani is Pankuni Uttiram (Mar/Apr). The main chariot will be pulled by hundreds of devotees. More than 50,000 kavadis participating in the festival. March 29, 2010

Palani is 60 km from Pollachi. Good road/rail connections to Coimbatore/Palakkad/Thrissur. Kodaikanal hill station is 60 km away.