Onam

Onam is a festival peculiar to Kerala, celebrated by people of all religion and caste. Onam celebrates the golden age of King Mahabali, the mythical ruler of Kerala. It is believed that the people of the region were extremely happy and content during his rule. So much so, that the gods got envious of him and asked Lord Vishnu to take away his kingdom. Lord Vishnu disguised as a Brahmin dwarf Vamana, asked the King for three steps of land, which he readily granted. Vishnu then shed his disguise and covered the earth and heaven in two steps. For the third, King Mahabali offered his head. However, before putting his foot on Mahabali’s head, Lord Vishnu granted the King’s last wish, that he be able to visit his kingdom once every year. It is to welcome Mahabali back to his kingdom that Onam is celebrated with such joy.

Vishu

Falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam (mid of April), which is the astronomical New Year Day when the sun crosses the equator. As per popular belief, the first thing people see on Vishu, the 'Vishukkani', is decisive to the year's prosperity. Thus the 'Vishukkani' has over the years become a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, areca nut, metal mirror, the yellow flowers 'konna', many of them in a bell metal vessel called 'uruli'. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside. Giving off handsel (kaineettam) to the younger members of the family is part of the celebrations.

Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur is best known for its Pooram Festival, which is the most colourful and spectacular temple festival of Kerala. Since the word Pooram literally means a group or a meeting, it was believed that every year the dynastic gods and goddesses of neighbouring province met together for a day of celebration.

 Thrissur Pooram, the mother of all temple festivals in the state, is essentially one of spectacles. The two devaswams- Thiruvampadi and Paramekkavu- explore and exploit every source at their command to make this annual festival a memorable one. It is celebrated with a colourful procession of caparisoned elephants, parasol exchanges; drum concerts, display of pyro-techniques and refreshing scenes of public participation. During the festival season, Thrissur, popularly known as the temple town turns into a town of colour, music and mirth.

The Pooram programs extending about 36 hours begins with the 'ezhunellippu' of the Kanimangalam Shasta in the morning and is followed by the 'ezhunnellippu' of the other six minor temples on the Pooram Day. The 'ezhunnellippu' program is considered to be a ritual symbolizing the visit of the Devi from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples to the Vadakkunnathan temple.

A major event of the Pooram festival is the Panchavadyam in which about 200 artistes from the disciplines of Thimila, Maddalam, Trumpet, Cymbal and Edakka participate. Another major event of the Pooram begins with the setting off of the 'Pandemelam' at noon in which about 200 artistes in the disciplines of drum, trumpets, pipe and cymbal participate. The grand finale of this festival of colour, music and fire works would be marked with a function of bidding farewell to the deities of the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams in front of the Western Gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. A noteworthy feature of the Pooram festival is the participation of large numbers of people and elephants.

The pachyderms emerge out in all their regalia with newly fabricated caparisons. They make their way through the milling crowds drawn from all religions, castes and creed to the accompaniment of ecstatic percussion ensembles. The exhibition of the paraphernalia of elephant decorative, commonly known as 'Aana Chamayal pradarsanam', the spectacular show of 'Kudamattom' in which parasols of myriad numbers, designs and colours are exchanged by the people atop the elephants.

The Pooram festival is concluded with a spectacular fire works display, which is held in the wee hours of the day after the Pooram. The Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams present many innovative patterns and varieties of fire works, which make spectators going into raptures. This famous and mighty display of magnificent fireworks adds to the popularity of the Pooram festival.

 The most striking feature of the Thrissur Pooram is its very secular nature, like many other Kerala festivals. The Muslim and Christian Communities actively take part in it and they play a very prominent role in the very conduct of the festival. Most of the pandals are the craftwork of the experts from the Muslim community. For the two days of the festival, the CMS High School, owned by the North Kerala Diocese of CST Church and located on the western part of the Swaraj Round, becomes virtually the Headquarters of the Thiruvampadi Devaswam. The temple elephants are tied in the school compound. The 'Aana Chamaya pradarsanam' is also held here. The churches and their members offer the parasols for the 'Kudamattom'.

Malayatoor Perunal

This holy Malayattoor Church is one of the most important Christian pilgrim centres in Kerala. It attracts devotees in very large numbers not only from Kerala but also from the neighbouring states. This famous church is situated at Kurisumudi, a verdant hill in the Western Ghats, girdled partially by the river Periyar.

Legends credit St. Thomas as having established about seven and a half churches in Kerala (here half is only indicative of a church smaller in size.) These seven churches were established at Kodungallur, Palayur, Paravur, Kokomangalam, Niranam, Chayal, and Kollam. The first Sunday after Easter is a very important day at Malayattoor. Pilgrims, chanting the name of the Apostle, 'Ponninkurisumala Muthappa', climb Kurisumudi, the steep hill to visit the holy shrine. The Church has a life-size statue of St. Thomas and the imprint of the feet of the Apostle on a rock.

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Nehru trophy boat race

This famous regatta on takes place on the second Saturday of August each year. Scores of long, low - slung chundan vallams (snake boats) compete for the Nehru Cup. Each boat is crewed by up to 100 rowers shaded by gleaning silk umbrellas. Being World's biggest boat race, Nehru Trophy Boat Race attracts a number of tourists from all over the globe. The boat race commemorates the visit of late Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to this place in 1952.