The colorful festivals of Kerala are as diverse as its land. Observed with enthusiasm and gaiety, festivals are like gems, ornamenting the crown of Kerala culture and tradition.Throughout the year, festivals keep Kerala life lively, putting a break in their mundane life.

Festivals in every season bring out the true celebration of nature’s bounty, exhibiting eternal harmony of spirit. With fun and excitement, festivals are occasions to clean and decorate houses, getting together with friends and relatives and exchange gifts. It is a time for prayer, ceremony and processions and rejoicing with new attires, dance and music.

Onam : The 10 day Kerala festival, Onam is the most important, honoring King Mahabali, a mythological king of ancient Kerala, whose period was considered as the golden age of the state. He was known for his virtues, goodness, so was his regime, which was marked by equality and harmony among people.

Thrissur Pooram : Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state introduced Thrissur Pooram, Kerala’s most extravagant spectacle. Celebrated in April-May, fulgent faces of Kerala’s culture are paraded throughout the temple festival attracting thousands of devotees and spectators.

Aranmula Uthrittathi : An annual famous snake boat carnival on the Pampa, it is held at Aranmula on the day of Uthrittathi asterism. Related to the Onam festival, it is to commemorate Lord Krishna crossing Pampa River on that day. All the boats taking part in the carnival have the deity and are expected to arrive at their destination simultaneously.

Thiruvathira : The festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January).

Devotees throng Shiva temples for a highly auspicious early morning worship. Tradition says Thiruvathira as the birthday of Lord Shiva.

Makaravillakku : For centuries, Sabarimala has been a major pilgrim centre in a Kerala travel guide attracting lakhs of devotees, mostly from south India. Presiding deity enshrined is Lord Ayyappa symbolizing unity between Vaishnavites and Saivites. Ayyappa is believed to have fulfilled his mission in life, rejoining his Supreme Self.

Vishu : Malayalam New Year is celebrated by bursting crackers and visiting temples.

Idul-Fitr/'Ramadan' : Ramadan is ninth month of the lunar year. Muslims observe fast, giving up all kinds of food and drink during daytime, spending major part of the night in devotion.

Easter : Oldest Christian festival, the central tenet marks the resurrection, not birth of Jesus. This paschal mystery and the events of Good Friday brought about Easter.