Fairs and festivals are celebrated with traditional gaiety
and fervor to invoke divine blessings as well as for the sheer
joy of living. A celebration of life at its best.
Cochin Carnival :
Cochin Carnival is a merry making feast observed during the
last week of every year in Fort Kochi in Kerala. The carnival
dates back to the Portuguese New Year revelry held here during
the colonial days. It has evolved as an occasion for the youth
to enjoy the party-like atmosphere. With unique games, competitions
and illumination during these days, Fort Kochi puts on a festive
look. The highlight of the Carnival is the massive procession
on the New Year Day. The procession is led by a caparisoned
elephant accompanied by drums and music, spectacular floats,
different folk art forms, Panchavadyam etc. North Indian dances
also figure in the festivities.
Malayatoor Perunal :
A feast is held at the famous Catholic Church at Malayatoor
on the Sunday after Easter to commemorate the visit of the
great apostle, St. Thomas. About 52 km from Kochi, atop the
hill, the church is dedicated to him and it is believed that
he came to India in the first century A.D and visited Malayattoor
twice. Pilgrims of all faiths visit the place chanting the
name of the Apostle. The church is set about 2000 feet high
and the grand feast that is organized on this day as a part
of the celebration is called the 'Perunnal'. This feast is
usually organized in March or April.
Attachamayam :
Celebrated to commemorate the legendary victory of the Raja
of Kochi, the festival of Attachamayam is held on the eighth
day of the Malayalam month of Chingam, which usually falls
in August or September at the historical town of Tripunithura,
near Kochi. A grand procession is taken out on this occasion,
which is full of pomp and show, colors abound the pageantry,
replete with caparisoned elephants, varieties of folk art
forms, floats and other musical ensemble.
Onam :
The Harvest Festival of Kerala, is one of the most popular
one too. The legend behind the festival goes back to the golden
reign of the great, kind and mighty demon king Mahabali. This
demon won over the kingdom of gods in war and Vishnu came
to their aid. Lord Vishnu then disguised himself as a small
Brahmin boy, Vamanan, and asked for three steps of land. The
wish was granted and Vamanan then assumed the huge size and
covered the whole land with his two steps and then asked the
King for the place where he could put his third step. The
king to honor his word offered his head as the third step
and Vamanan pushed Mahabali into the abyss. However, he granted
him a wish that he could visit his kingdom and people on a
particular day once a year, the day which usually falls in
the ten-day festivity of this harvest season. A floral carpet
called "Athappookkalam" in front of houses, Carnivals,
Boat Races, Dance, Music and Feast consisting of the traditional
sweet dish of Kerala 'Payasam' on plantain leaf characterize
Onam.
Indira Gandhi Boat Race :
The boat races of Kerala are very famous. Many boat races
are organized throughout the year in the state of Kerala.
Kuttanad and the upper Kuttanad area are just one of the most
famous boat racing spots. Since most of the natives of Kerala
are agriculturists and fishermen by profession, boat races
help to unwind them and show off their graceful and muscular
physique as they work with each other as a team to win the
race. Both the oarsmen and boats are selected carefully irrespective
of their caste, creed or classes, merely, on the basis of
their performances. Thus, a communal harmony is promoted through
such events and a bond of union binds all the classes as one.
The rolling backwaters of Kochi are very inviting and thus
a grand gala is held here in the last week of December as
a final touch to its spectacular Tourism Fair. Cheering crowds,
zest and festivity abound when the sixteen majestic snake
boats race neck to neck in gaiety, each vying for the coveted
trophy of the race, which was instituted in memory of Indira
Gandhi, the late Prime Minister of India.
Jewish Festivals :
It is believed that the Jews of Kerala migrated here in the
1st after the second temple of Jerusalem was destroyed in
72 AD. The Jewish community settled mainly in and around Mattancherry,
Kochi and brought with them the Jewish customs and festivals.
The Passover Festival is celebrated annually to commemorate
the liberation of Jews from Egyptian slavery followed by the
Pentecost Festival and the feast of the Tabernacles. Then,
there are their New Year celebration in September or October
and Hanukka, the 'festival of lights' too. Passover or Pesach
festival is celebrated by the Jews in March or April as possibly
sprung up as a Spring festival originally until it became
related with the escape of the Israelites from slavery in
Egypt. Pentecost is usually celebrated on the fiftieth day
of the Passover and was originally an Old Testament festival
related to agriculture and was celebrated in order to welcome
the Spring. However, in the early New Testament period, it
somehow became associated with the celebration of God's creation
of His people and his gracious gift of the law on Mount Sinai.
Feast of Tabernacles is one of the oldest festivals of the
Jews. It is known as the Feast of Ingathering in the Bible
and in Hebrew, it is known as Sukkoth. Similarly, Hanukkah
is the jewish Feast of Dedication.
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