Onam is an annual harvest and Hindu cultural festival celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events.
Pooram pronounced is an annual festival, which is celebrated in temples dedicated to goddesses Durga or Kali, held especially in the old Valluvanad area, and to a lesser extent in other places, covering Kerala State's present-day Palakkad, Thrissur and Malappuram districts) as also Kollam district, after the summer harvest. Harimattom pooram is one of the famous pooram in Ernakulam. An example of a famous pooram is Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram which has an active participation of 11 Lakh people across the country. Most pooram festivals have at least one ornately decorated elephant being paraded in the procession taken out of the temple precincts. However, there are some well known poorams, such as Anthimahakalankavu Vela, Chelakkara, Aryankavu Pooram at shoranur Palakkad and Machad mamangam near Wadakkanchery that do not use the caparisoned elephant, instead go for stilted mannequins of horses or bullocks. Vela is also a festival like pooram. Thrissur Pooram is the most famous of all poorams, known for fire works. The second-best-known Pooram in Kerala is Kollam Pooram. Kavassery pooram is well known for fireworks during afternoon. Some other well-known pooram festivals are Arattupuzha-Peruvanam Pooram, Chalissery Pooram is well known for the art and cultural standards, Anthimahakalankavu Vela, Nenmara Vallangi Vela, Vairankode Vela, Chinakathoor pooram, Mannarkkad Pooram, Kavassery Pooram, Pariyanampatta Pooram, Harimattom Pooram and Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram. Peruvanam-Arattupuza pooram is celebrating its 1436th year in 2018.
The Malayali people are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala & Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India, occupying its southwestern Malabar coast. They form the majority of the population in Kerala and Lakshadweep. They are predominantly native speakers of the Malayalam language, one of the six classical languages of India. The state of Kerala was created in 1956 through the States Reorganisation Act. Prior to that, since the 1800s existed the Kingdom of Travancore, the Kingdom of Cochin, Malabar District, and South Canara of the British India. The Malabar District was annexed by the British through the Third Mysore War (1790–92) from Tipu Sultan. Before that, the Malabar District was under various kingdoms including the Zamorins of Calicut, Kingdom of Tanur, Arakkal kingdom, Kolathunadu, Valluvanad, and Palakkad Rajas.
Cherthala is a municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India and act as satellite town of kochi. It is located 20 km (12.4 mi) north of the district headquarters in Alappuzha and about 146 km (90.7 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Cherthala has a population of 45,821 people, and a population density of 2,727/km2 (7,060/sq mi).
Ettumanoor is a municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is located 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about 129 km (80.2 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Ettumanoor has a population of 26,993 people, and a population density of 1,687/km2 (4,370/sq mi).
Karivela is a festival in which many volunteers paint in black with charcoal and walk through the streets, this festival is conducted as part of other festivals, like Nemmara Vela, Kuthira Vela etc. These men usually controls the people who come to watch the festival. Kari Vela is usually seen in Palakkad District of Kerala, south India.
Kerala, a state situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler, Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives and beautiful backwaters. Kerala has unique culture and traditions coupled with its varied demography. Several international agencies ranging from UNESCO to National Geographic have recognised the state's tourism potential. Kerala was named by TIME magazine in 2022 among the 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in its list of the World's Greatest Places. In 2023, Kerala was listed at the 13th spot in The New York Times' annual list of places to visit and was the only tourist destination listed from India.
Manapullikavu is a Hindu temple located in Palakkad city, Kerala of India. The temple is most famous for the annual festival that takes place in the temple known as Manappullikavu Vela. Manapullikavu is also a major residential area in Palakkad city comprising apartments and residential colonies. Manappulikavu is ward 27 of Palakkad Municipality.
Kottangal is a census village in Kottangal gram panchayat in the Mallapally taluk of the district of Pathanamthitta in Kerala. As of 2011, it had a population of 17,174.
Padur (or Padoor) is a village in Palakkad District, Kerala. There is a temple of Sree Panickanar where a yearly festival called Padur Vela is celebrated, which is well attended for Vela-Poorams in the Palakkad district.
Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in Kerala. Main deity is Sree Bhadrakali. The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. The temple is situated about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Mavelikkara town, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Kayamkulam city on SH6. Bhadrakali, is an incarnation of supreme mother Shakthi devi, born from the third eye of Lord Shiva, to kill the demon king Daruka. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is worshipped for prosperity and salvation. Devi is considered as the creator, protector, destructor, nature, power and Kundalini shakthi. Chettikulangara is located near Kayamkulam city. Chettikulangara is in kayamkulam legislative assembly.
Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram is a 300-year-old Hindu temple on the banks of the Achankovil river in Vazhamuttom, Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. The Devi (goddess) is the main deity here. The centuries-old temple was fully reconstructed in 2020.
Velur or Veloor is a village and panchayat in Kunnamkulam Taluk, Thrissur district, Kerala, India with a population of 22,155. Other places close to Velur are Kechery, Wadakkanchery etc.
Uthralikkavu Pooram (ഉത്രാളിക്കാവ്) is a festival held at Shri Rudhiramahakalikav temple situated at Wadakkanchery in Thalappilly taluk of Thrissur district in Kerala, South India. The temple is famed for its Pooram festival held during February / March every year. It is considered as the second highest crowded pooram after Thrissur Pooram
Mudappallur is a village in the Palakkad district of the state of Kerala in India. It is a small locality comes under the Vandazhi-II village, Alathur Taluk. Mudappallur's Postal Index Number is 678705.
Padayani, also known Padeni, is a traditional folk dance and a ritual art from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples. The dance is performed in honor of Bhadrakaali. Meaning, a 'row of warriors', Padayani is an art form that blends all music, dance, theatre, satire, facial masks, and paintings. It is part of worship of Bhadrakali and is staged in temples dedicated to the goddess from mid-December to mid-May. Padayani is unique to central Travancore, comprising the Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts of Kerala. It is also performed in adjoining regions of Kollam, Alappuzha districts.
The Nenmara Vallanghy Vela or Nenmara Vela is one of the most popular annual festival of Kerala celebrated at Nellikulangara Bhagavathy temple in Nenmara, Palakkad district.
Machad Mamangam also known as Machad Kuthira Vela or Thiruvanikkavu Kuthira vela is a temple festival celebrated at Thiruvanikkavu temple near Wadakkancherry in Thrissur District. The festival is organised by five desams (Villages) in a competitive way. Karumathra, Viruppakka, Mangalam, Parlikadu and Manalithara are the 5 main participants of the festival. Thekkumkara, Punnamparambu, and Panangattukara are desams who take initiative in conducting pooram once in every three years. The festival starts with a parapurappadu on first Friday of Kumbham according to Malayalam calendar. On the coming Tuesday the real festival vela is celebrated with wooden horses made by different desams.
Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani is a festival celebrated every year at the Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Chettikulangara, Alappuzha district, Kerala. It is held in the month of February or March, the date being determined according to the Malayalam Calendar. Chettikulangara Bharani in the Bharani nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Kumbha and hence the name Kumbha Bharani. Kuthiyottam and Kettukazhcha are the highlights of the festival. The festival is under consideration to be bestowed with the Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO.
Palakkad district has a large number of temples, churches, mosques and other tourist attractions. Palakkad district is situated in the middle of Kerala state in South India. The nearest airports are at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Cochin in Kerala.
