Manarcad Perunnal

Start Date: 01-09-2010

End Date : 08-09-2010

Venue: St. Mary's Church, Manarcad, Kottayam district.

The annual eight-day Perunnal or festival at the Manarcad St. Mary's Church is dedicated to Virgin Mary. It is a time of fasting and prayer. The ritual fast for eight days is locally called Ettu Noyambu. On the last three days, there is a colourful ceremonial procession of devotees carrying a golden cross and brightly coloured parasols.

Getting There:

Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 10 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 km from Kottayam.
  

Thiru Onam

Event Date : 23-08-2010
     
Venue: Onam is celebrated all over Kerala.

Every year by August or September, Kerala transforms into a festive mood, which is quite palpable on the streets of towns and villages and also on the faces of people belonging to all age groups. And the reason? The festival of Onam has arrived!. Nature too adds its might to the ambience by revealing its own special colours.

The celebrations of Onam are on for ten days, beginning with the Atham day of the Malayalam month of Chingam. And Thiru Onam is the most auspicious of the ten days when family members get together and enjoy a grand traditional feast. The occasion is also marked by the buying and gifting of new clothes (locally known as Ona Kodi) and a host of other activities that include singing, playing games and visits to temples.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Event Date : 14-08-2010

Venue: Punnamada Backwaters, Alappuzha district.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the greatest event on the backwaters of Kerala. The race is held on the second Saturday of August every year. Magnificent snakeboats compete for the prized trophy instituted by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Apart from the races of chundanvalloms (snakeboats) and of smaller country crafts, the event offers many fascinating sights such as ceremonial water processions, spectacular floats and decorated boats.

Getting There:

Nearest railway station: Alappuzha, about 8 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha.

Anayoottu

Event Date : 17-07-2010

Venue: Vadakkumnatha Temple, Thrissur.

This July, get ready to witness an unusual event at the famous Vadakkumnatha Temple in Thrissur. At the peak of the Monsoon rainy season in Kerala, the premises of the Vadakkumnatha Temple will witness an annual feast; not partaken by humans but by dozens of domesticated elephants. It is a special occasion for the elephants as part of their health rejuvenation, when they are fed with specially prepared medicinal food. This feast is witnessed by thousands every year, which takes place on the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, which roughly corresponds to the months of July / August every year. This is a time, considered to be the most ideal for rejuvenation therapies for humans also according to the principles of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine.

Getting There:

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

Champakulam Boat Race

Event Date : 26-06-2010

Venue: Champakulam, Alappuzha district.

The boat race season of Kerala begins with the Champakulam Vallamkali or boat race, one of the most popular boat races of the State. The highlights of this magnificent event include a ceremonial procession on the water, spectacular water floats, decorated boats and, of course, the regal chundanvalloms (snakeboats) (so called because the prow resembles the raised hood of a snake), each 100 feet long!

Getting There:

Nearest railway station: Alappuzha about 26 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha.

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