The Onam:
The national festival of Kerala. It is celebrated in the malayalam month of Chingham. Many myths surround this festival. The most important is that Onam celebrates the return of the legendary king Mahabali who ruled over a golden age. Another myth is about Cheraman Perumal who accepted the Muslim faith. Onam marks the month of harvest suggesting prosperity and happiness all around. It is a ten-day long festival, starting from the day of Atham. People decorate their yards with floral carpets during these days. Each and everyone dressed in their new clothes assemble in their homes for the traditional Onam meal. The vegetarian meal eaten on a banana leaf contains traditional dishes, pappad and payasam(sweet). The meal is followed by other activities like dance, games and boat race. The ladies perform the Kaikkottikkali (a dance form). Onathallu or Kayyangali, Thallu and Onappada, which is a martial art for entertainment, are performed as part of the Onam celebrations. Onathallu conducted at Kurumbranattu and Kunnamkulam are quite famous.

The Athachamayam:
A colourful festival in connection with Onam celeberations. Earlier it was conducted by the Kochi Maharaja(King of Kochi) and Zamorins(Rulers of Calicut) alike on the day of Atham in the Malayalam month of Chingam. Since 1960 it has been taken over by the government and is organised by governmental bodies as part of the Onam festival. This colourful procession conducted on the day of Atham marks the beginning of Onam celebrations for ten days that concludes on the day of Thiruvonam. The festival is conducted at Thripunithura in Ernakulam district.

The Chirtsmas:
celebrated to honour the glory of the nativity of Jesus on 25th May is the most significant and spectacular of Christian festivals. No other celebration is so enriched with so many customs and ceremonies. There is an array of spectacles like Christmas Star, Christmas tree, the Crib, Christmas cake, Christmas presents and the Christmas Father. The last named is quite a fascinating personage, who claims above all to be the very embodiment of the most vibrant and quintessence of the gayest of all the festivals.

The Makaravilakku:
Sabarimala - For centuries, Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta has been a major pilgrim centre attracting lakhs of devotees from all over India, more so from southern States. The presiding deity is Lord Ayyappa known as Dharma Sastha, a considered symbol of unity between Vaishnavites and Saivites. Darma Sastha is believed to have fulfilled his mission in life and rejoined his Supreme Self, enshrined at Sabarimala.

The Attukal Pongala:
is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple located in Trivandrum. It is a ten-day programme commencing on the Karthika star of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and closing with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night. On the ninth day of the festival, the world famous Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam takes place. Devi Attukalamma is considered as the incarnation of Kannaki, the heroine of Silappathikaram by Tamil Poet Illango in 2nd century A.D and Attukal is one of the places where Kannaki took rest on her journey northward from Madurai to Kodungallur..

The Mahasivarathri:
The Mahasivarathri is essentially a religious festival unlike the Onam and Thiruvathira. The word means `the great night of Siva. According to the Sivapurana, it falls on the Krishna Chathurdasi day which is on the fourteenth day during the warning of the moon in the month of Megha, though in some years it may occur in Phalguna also. In Kerala the month of Kumbham is noted for the Sivarathri festival which falls in May -March. The Mahasivarathri is considered a very important day for fast and Siva worship. The celebration of Sivarathri in Aluva is as famous as the festivals like Ashtami at Vaikom, Pooram at Thrissur etc.

The Thrissur Pooram:
Pooram is the festival of festivals. It is conducted at the great Vadakkunnatha temple of Thrissur. The Vadakkunnatha temple, which resembles a Japanese Shrine, is built in the ancient Kerala style with sanded courts, stone sculptures, a traditional auditorium and multi level roofs. In the evening of Pooram day, two lines of 13 elephants face each other, on the ground south to the temple. Each Pachyderm bears an umbrella holder, a peacock fan carrier and a yak-tail fly whisk wielder. Between the two lines of elephants stand percussion and wind orchestras. As each orchestra reaches a crescendo, a new display of brilliant ceremonial umbrellas blossoms over the elephants and the supporting crowd applauds. This continues till sunset when the elephants depart and late at night, the darkness explodes with a magnificent fireworks display.

The Great Elephant March:
 A ceremonial show of caparisoned elephants. The elephant march traces its origin to temple festivals where trained elephants in their traditional grandeur offer a majestic and glittering show of colour and pageantry. The elephants in their ceremonial outfit are paraded at a ground accompanied by temple music. Elephant marches are organised in different towns and cities. Tourists can enjoy a ride on the back of the elephant and a tug of war with them.

THE VALLAM KALI
 Kerala, the land of backwaters, rivers and a long coast line depend on boats for their various needs and purposes. Fishing is a major industry and profession of the people. Baots of various size and shape are used by the people for their various needs. The boat races has evolved as a major sport in Kerala. The major attraction for tourists is cruising in the backwaters. Known as ‘Kettuvallam’, a finely decorated, house boat, with all amenities. Long before the upcoming of tourism industry, people of different regions enjoyed this sport, the boat race in special made boats like ‘Chundan Vallom’ otherwise known as snake boat… Vallomkali known as ‘Boat Race’ is performed with boat songs (Vanchipattu). It include devotional songs recited in a rhythmic tone to boost the participants or the paddlers. The leaders of the team will be standing on the end of the boat, steaming the minds of paddlers.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race:
 Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the annual water carnival at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha is considered as the biggest snake boat race in the world. The colourful boat pageantry, which precedes the boat race, is a marvelous treat to the onlookers. The snake boats with 100 to 120 oarsmen plough the waters to the tune of the legendary songs.
Jawaharlal Nehru who was enthralled by the charm and gaiety of the water carnival instituted the Nehru Trophy. This boat race attracts a large number of tourists.
 

The Aranmula Boat Pageant:
Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallomkali is conducted in the Pamba River in front of Sri Parthasarathi Temple. Though, large snake boats take part in this festival they do not race with each other. Instead, they row in union, to the accompaniment of songs and reach their destination together because Lord Krishna is believed to be present in each boat. Since 1971 this procession has taken the present form of a race conducted by the Palliyoda Seva Sangh.