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| Fairs
and Festivals |
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Onam-The
National Festival of Kerala | Vishu
| Navarathri | Mahasivarathri | Makaravillakku
at Sabarimala
| Thrikarthika
| Thiruvathira
| Christmas
| Easter | Ramadan
| Eid-Ul-Fitr
| Eid-Ul-Zuha | Milad-Ul-Nabi | Muharram | Gramam(Village Fair) | The Great Elephant
March | Nishagandhi
Dance Festivals | Flavour
Food Festival | Attukal Pongala
| Vetta and Arattu
| Sarkara Devi Temple,
Chirayinkeezhu | Sree
Subramanya Swamy Temple, Ulloor | Aruvippuram
Siva Temple, Aruvippuram | Thiruvambadi
Sree Krishna Temple | Christ
the King Church | Beemapalli,
Trivandrum |
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| Sarkara Devi
Temple, Chirayinkeezhu. |
18
Kms from Trivandrum, this temple is rated high
among the Bhagavathi temple of Kerala. Two festivals
are celebrated here every year. The most important
"Bharani utsavam" is a 10- day event
commencing with Koodiyattam.The
concluding day is masked by a unique ritual "Garudan
thookam".
The Kaliyoothu
Maholsavam is unique in many ways "Kalitooth"
is folk ritual lasting 8 days and conducted by
the village heads, commemorating the fight between
Goddess Bhagavathi and demon, Darika. The climax
is thrilling and is enacted on a stage erected
100 Ft. high. It is a visual treat.
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| Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple,
Ulloor. |
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Dedicated
to Lord Subramanya , this temple is just 7 Kms
from Trivandrum. Of the two festivals celebrated,
the Koodiyattom festival lasts eight days. Commencing
with 'Koodiyattom' and ending with 'Aarattu' the
highlights of the festival are the Kathakali and
other dance performances.
Aarattu has its
usual splendour with elephant processions and
temple music. "Thypooyam" is a colourful
festival, Kavadiyattom, a ritual dance carrying
Kavadis is the main event. More than 300
Kavadies participate.
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| Aruvippuram Siva
Temple, Aruvippuram |
This
temple assumes great historical and social significance,
since, when tradition strictly allowed only Brahamins
to install deities, here a non Brahmin, reputed
social reformer Sree Narayana Guru did it breaking
the centuries old Brahmin monopoly.
One
of the important festivals celebrated here
is Sivarathri.Apart
from the religious convention participated by
eminent scholars, several cultural programmes
are also held.
A traditionally ornamented elephant carries the
image of the deity in a grand procession in the
evening and the festival concludes with the Arattu.
Another festival celebrated is Sree Narayana Guru
Jayanthi, birthday of the great reformer.
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| Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna
Temple, Manthara, Varkala |
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The
annual festival of this temple is a two -day celebration.
On the last day is the Arattu and a procession
takes place in the evening with nine caparisoned
elephants and folk arts Ammankudam and
Mayilattam. Another festival celebrated
is a day–ong Ashtamirohini, the birthday
of Lord Krishna.
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| Christ the
King Church, Vettukad, Thiruvananthapuram |
Festival
of the Christ the King is on the last Sunday of
October. High Mass, Vespers, a two-hour
long Holy Eucharistic procession and benediction
are the highlights of the festival.
Nativity feast
of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also celebrated
with religious spirit.
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| Beemapalli, Trivandrum |
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This shrine, dedicated to the
memory of Beema beevi, a pious muslim lady believed
to have been endowed with extraordinary powers,
is situated about 5 kms south west of Trivandrum.
A ten-day festival, known as
Chandanakuda Mahotsavam is celebrated to commemorate
the death anniversary of Beema Beevi, starting
from the first of Jamadul Akbar (March - April)
of the Hijra Year.
Earthern pots known as Chandanakudam
smeared with sandalwood paste, their mouths covered
with white cloth, garlands tied around the neck,
three incense sticks thrust into the cloth covering
and filled with coins, are brought by the devotees
as offering.
Inside the shrine , a purification
ritual known as Ratheeb is conducted and art forms
like Dharamuttu, Vadithallu etc are staged. On
the last day, a spectacular procession led by
a couple of caparisoned elephants, panchavadyam,
Dharamuttu etc is held and a thundering
display of fireworks marks the conclusion of the
festival. |
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