Kerala is a land of colorful festivals, which have a long history and tradition behind them. Kerala wakes up to some festival or the other every day of the year. Kerala's innumerable festivals are unique. These colorful festivals are the spirit of celebrations. These are the golden feathers on Kerala’s culture and tradition. It makes the life there vibrant, round out the year. Filled with fun and excitement, festivals are occasions to clean and decorate houses, to get together with friends and relatives and to exchange gifts. It is a time for prayer, for pageantry and processions and time to rejoice. The important fairs and festivals in the state are:

ONAM FESTIVAL
Onam is the most famous festival of Kerala. All Malayali's irrespective of religion celebrates it. It falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug-Sept). It is the harvest festival and the national festival of Kerala.
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VISHU
The first month of Malayalam Calendar is Medam (April-May) and the first day of Medam is celebrated as Vishu, the New Year day. Vishu morning is an important time in Kerala.
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MAHASIVARATHRI
Hindus celebrate Mahasivarathri, all over the world in Kumbam (Feb-March). It commemorates the day on which Lord Shiva consumed the deadly poison (Kalakuda visham) to save the world from destruction.
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THRISSUR POORAM
The most spectacular spectacle in the state. This festival was introduced by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state. This magnificent temple festival is held in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala, every year during the month of Medom according to the Malayalam calendar, which falls in April-May every year.
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MAKARAVILAKKU AT SABARIMALA
For centuries, Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta has been a major pilgrim centre in Kerala attracting lakhs of devotees from all over Kerala and South India. The presiding deity is Lord Ayyappa known as Dharma Sastha, a considered symbol of unity between Vaishnavites and Saivites.
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ATTUKAL PONGALA FESTIVAL
Attukal Pongala this is the one and the only temple festival in the world where lakhs of women assembled together to make offerings by cooking a pudding for the goddess in the Attukal temple.
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NEHRU TROPHY VALLAMKALI
This is a typical keralite festival of boat races. It is held in August in the Punnamada Kayal, which commemorates the visit of former Prime Minister, Late Jawaharlal Nehru to Alleppey. The first year this event took place was as a demonstration in 1952 in honor of the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
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ARANMULA UTHRITTATHI
Aranmula Uthrittathi is the famous snake boat carnival on the Pampa, held annually at Aranmula on the day of Uthrittathi asterism, in connection with the Onam festival is to commemorate the crossing of the river by Lord Krishna on that day. The deity is supposed to be in all the boats that take part in the carnival and all of them are expected to arrive a t their destination simultaneously
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PAYIPPAD JELOTSAVAM
Payippad Jelotsavam held in memory for the Prathista ceremony of Haripad Subramanya temple and therefore has a religious significance. This festival is celeberated for three days commencing from the Onam festival day. Snake boat processions are taken out on the first two days and competitive boat race take place on the third day.
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CHRISTMAS
All Christians celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ on 25th Dec. Holy Mass is held in all the churches in the state. Carol singing, setting up of Christmas tree and crib in all churches and homes, exchanges of cards and receiving gifts from Santa Claus are all integral part of the festivities associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
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EASTER
Easter is the oldest Christian festival, as old as Christianity itself. The central tenet of Christianity is not the birth of Jesus, but his resurrection. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It starts with the 50 days nombu and will pass through Maundy Thursday, the Good Friday and the Easter.
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• St.George's Church, Edathwa - 27 April to 7th May
• St.Sebastian's Church, Arathungal - 20th January to 31st January
• St George's Church, Aruvithura - 22nd to 24th April
• St Thomas Shrine, Malayattur - Last week of March or first week of April
• St Mary's Orthodox Church, Manarcad - Sepember 1st to 9th
• Parumala, Mannar

BAKRID
The Bakrid commemorates Ibrahim's (Abhraham) offering of his only son as a sacrifice in obedience to God's command. The Muslims enjoy hearty feasts on Bakrid day. The rich may sacrifice a he goat or a bullock and distribute it among frieds, relatives and the poor. The famous Haj is performed after the celebration of Idul Azha.
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IDUL FITR
Idul Fitr is celebrated after the conclusion of the Ramzan fast. It is one of the two festivals of Islam. Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar year. During this month the Muslims observe fast, giving up all kinds of food and drink during day time, and spend the major part of the night in devotion and prayer.
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MILADI SHARIF
Miladi Sharif commemorates the birth of the prophet. This celebration has acquired its present dimensions only in recent times. Previously the day was observed by the Muslims by reading what is commonly known as Maulud which is a short treatise in Arabic celebrating the birth, life, work and sayings of the prophet or some saint.
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Other Muslim Festivals

• Muharram
• Chandankudam