India is known for different colourful festivals. Thiruvananthapuram is no exception. With color, vigor, pomp and grandeur Thiruvananthapuram celebrates a number of festivals almost all through the year. All the festivals occur in a quicker succession in one part of the year than the other.
Christmas, Easter, Good Friday are celebrated with much fanfare by the Christian community at this place. The exchange of greetings and wishes among the Christians and their Hindu and Muslim brethren is a common sight.
Muslims, have their heyday during Bakrid and Ramadan. The air is filled with serenity as they observe fasting during Ramadan month. The celebrations are coupled with piety and piousness. Warm greetings exchange kind hearts regardless of religion or caste.
Hindus make merry of a number of festivals. The popular functions among the Hindus as for example Diwali, Dasara. etc. are celebrated with equal pomp and show throughout the Nation and with hearty greetings, gifts and wishes being conveyed among kith and kins and to the friends belonging to other religions. But apart from all these popular functions there are some more Hindu festivals which are celebrated with equal zest. These are unique to the State. Some of the names can be mentioned below.
Onam: This is celebrated in the months of August-September. It commemorates the reign of the legendary king Mahabali in the Hindu Mythology. One week is earmarked for tourism during the peak of the festive season to enable the tourists as well as the inhabitants to move about and have their slice of the hilarity.
Arattu: Vetta and Arattu occur twice a year. Holy processions are held from Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple to Shangumugam Beach led by the members of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore.
The idols from the Temple are taken to the sea for a holy dip. Cultural performances including the Kathakali are part of the celebrations.
Attukal Pongala: Thousands of female devotees throng the `Bhagawathy Amman` temple at Attukal. This temple is situated just a couple of kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, for the 10 day Pongala festival. As it is a `Ladies Special` festival, men are not supposed be in the proximity. `Pongala`, considered to be the Goddess`s favourite. It is a kind of sweet porridge. The long line of women absorbed in devotion and also preparing this ritual offering can be seen all the way till the East Fort and farther.
Chandanakudam Mahotsavam: This is a colourful Islamic festival. Devotees bring offerings in the form of money in pots decorated with flowers and incense sticks and sandalwood paste. The sticks send out their sweet aroma, to the tomb of an austere lady, Bee Umma, at Beemapally, near Thiruvananthapuram.
Nishagandhi Dance and Music Festival: The `Nishagandhi Open Air Theatre`, Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram hosts this festival of Indian classic dance and music from the 22nd to the 27th of February every year. The evenings are filled with, Bharatha-natyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchi-pudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Odissi and traditional dance forms of classical music and Jugalbandi, etc.
Gramam: This is a 10 day village fair along the beach at Kovalam. The festival lasts from Jan 14th to Jan 23rd. The venue is provided by the quadrangular penthouse courtyard with an open centre. The place is called the Nalukettu. Arts and Crafts fair, Kathakali, Thiruvathirakali, Mohiniyattam, Oppana Kalaripayattu, Theyyam Kumettikali, Kakkarisi Natakam, Panchavadyam, Chakyarkoothu, Ottanthullal, etc. deserve special mention.
Flavour Food Festival: This festival is celebrated from 5th to 1lth April by renowned hotels across Kerala at the Kanakakunnu Palace Grounds, Thiruvananthapuram, this festival is the time for various cuisines of the world, titillating dishes and inviting delicacies.
