Kochi & Central Kerala · Western Coastal Strip
Festivals
| Festival | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Onam | Chingam (August–September), ten days | The harvest festival and the state's defining occasion — floral pookkalam, sadya on a leaf, boat races, Pulikali tiger dancers in Thrissur. Marked by Keralites of every faith. |
| Thrissur Pooram | Medam (April–May) | Two temple factions competing across a day and night with caparisoned elephants, the kudamattam parasol exchange, and the largest percussion ensembles in India. Held at the Vadakkunnathan temple ground. |
| Vishu | 14 or 15 April | The Malayalam astronomical new year. The Vishukkani — a lamp-lit arrangement of konna flowers, rice, gold, a mirror and the deity — is set up at night so it is the first thing seen on waking. |
| Theyyam season | December–April | Hundreds of separate shrine calendars across Kannur and Kasaragod, each with its own deity, costume and night. |
| Nehru Trophy Boat Race | August — traditionally the second Saturday, though recent editions have moved within the month | Chundan vallam snake boats over 100 feet long, crewed by around a hundred rowers, racing on Punnamada Lake to vanchipattu. |
| Attukal Pongala | Kumbham (February–March) | Women cooking rice offerings on brick hearths along the streets of Thiruvananthapuram — one of the largest gatherings of women anywhere. |
The festival calendar of Kochi & Central Kerala — what is celebrated, when it falls and what happens. (6)