Explore Kerala Top Festivals & Celebrations 2025

Kerala, with its rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted traditions, is a vibrant state known for its grand celebrations and colorful festivals. Every season brings an opportunity to witness a diverse array of festivals, from local harvest celebrations to national festivities like Diwali and Holi. Kerala also hosts music, art, and food festivals that showcase its cultural brilliance. Whether you’re interested in traditional festivals, seasonal celebrations, or national holidays, this guide will provide insight into the best places to experience them.

State-Specific Traditional Festivals

1. Onam
   • Celebrated with grandeur, Onam is Kerala’s most famous festival. It marks the homecoming of King Mahabali and includes ten days of vibrant celebrations with traditional feasts, snake boat races, and cultural performances.
   • Best places to witness: Thrissur, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram.
2. Vishu
   • Vishu is celebrated as Kerala’s New Year in April, symbolizing prosperity and new beginnings. The day starts with viewing the Vishukkani (auspicious items) and bursting of firecrackers.
   • Best places to witness: Kollam, Kannur, and Palakkad.
3. Thrissur Pooram
   • Thrissur Pooram is one of Kerala’s grandest temple festivals. It involves a spectacular parade of decorated elephants, percussion performances, and an elaborate fireworks display.
   • Best place to witness: Thrissur.
4. Attukal Pongala
   • A major festival for women, Attukal Pongala sees millions of women gather to offer homemade rice pudding to the goddess. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of women for a single festival.
   • Best place to witness: Thiruvananthapuram.
5. Aranmula Vallasadya
   • This is a traditional festival linked with the famous snake boat races, celebrated with a grand feast (Vallasadya) at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.
   • Best place to witness: Aranmula, Pathanamthitta.

Harvest Festivals Across India

1. Pongal (Tamil Nadu)
   • Celebrated in January, Pongal is a significant harvest festival in Tamil Nadu that gives thanks to the sun, cattle, and nature for a good harvest. The four-day celebration includes traditional meals, kolam (rangoli), and festivities.
   • Best places to witness: Chennai, Thanjavur, and Madurai.
2. Baisakhi (Punjab)
   • Baisakhi marks the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab and is celebrated with lively folk dances like Bhangra and Gidda, accompanied by vibrant fairs and processions.
   • Best places to witness: Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar.
3. Makar Sankranti (Across India)
   • Celebrated across India, Makar Sankranti signifies the transition of the sun into Capricorn. In Gujarat, it is marked by kite flying, while in other states, people celebrate with bonfires, feasts, and prayers.
   • Best places to witness: Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Varanasi.
4. Lohri (Punjab)
   • Lohri is celebrated the night before Makar Sankranti in northern India, especially Punjab, where people gather around bonfires, sing traditional songs, and dance to celebrate the end of winter.
   • Best places to witness: Ludhiana, Patiala, and Chandigarh.
5. Nabanna (West Bengal)
   • Nabanna is West Bengal’s harvest festival, celebrated after the Aman paddy is harvested. Traditional music, dance performances, and local delicacies make this festival unique.
   • Best places to witness: Kolkata and rural Bengal.

Music and Art Festivals

1. Kochi-Muziris Biennale
   • This international contemporary art festival is held every two years in Kochi. The event showcases installations, paintings, sculptures, and live performances by artists from around the world.
   • Best place to witness: Kochi.
2. Nishagandhi Dance Festival
   • A classical dance festival held in Thiruvananthapuram, showcasing various Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, and Odissi.
   • Best place to witness: Thiruvananthapuram.
3. Chembai Sangeetholsavam
   • Held in Guruvayur, this is a classical music festival in honor of Carnatic musician Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar. Musicians from across India come to perform at this annual event.
   • Best place to witness: Guruvayur.
4. Swaralaya International Music Festival
   • A ten-day event in Palakkad that brings together national and international artists, focusing on Indian classical music and traditional art forms.
   • Best place to witness: Palakkad.
5. Soorya Festival
   • Known for its month-long celebration of classical dance, music, and cinema, the Soorya Festival in Kerala is a must-attend event for art lovers.
   • Best place to witness: Thiruvananthapuram.

Food Festivals Across Different Seasons

1. Alleppey Food and Cultural Festival
   • This festival brings together Kerala’s culinary delights, with a focus on traditional seafood dishes. It also includes cultural performances and food stalls offering local cuisine.
   • Best place to witness: Alleppey.
2. Malabar Food Festival
   • Held in Kozhikode, the Malabar Food Festival is a celebration of the region’s diverse culinary heritage, focusing on dishes like biryanis, seafood, and sweet delicacies.
   • Best place to witness: Kozhikode.
3. Spice Route Culinary Festival
   • This international food festival celebrates Kerala’s connection to the ancient Spice Route. Chefs from around the world participate, creating fusion dishes using local spices.
   • Best place to witness: Kochi.
4. Vishu Sadya Celebrations
   • During Vishu, a grand feast called Sadya is prepared, consisting of various traditional dishes served on banana leaves. It’s an integral part of the Vishu celebration in homes and temples.
   • Best places to witness: Thrissur, Kollam, and Kochi.
5. Chakara Food Festival
   • Celebrated during the monsoon season when fish are abundant due to the upwelling phenomenon, this festival in coastal areas celebrates Kerala’s seafood culture.
   • Best place to witness: Alappuzha and Kollam.

Best Places to Witness Holi, Diwali, and Other National Festivals

1. Holi (Vrindavan, Mathura)
   • Holi, the festival of colors, is best experienced in Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna is said to have played Holi. The celebrations are vibrant and filled with music, dance, and colors.
   • Best places to witness: Vrindavan, Mathura, and Barsana.
2. Diwali (Varanasi, Jaipur)
   • Diwali, the festival of lights, transforms cities across India with beautiful decorations and fireworks. Varanasi is particularly magical, with lamps floating along the Ganges and grand celebrations in temples.
   • Best places to witness: Varanasi, Jaipur, and Delhi.
3. Durga Puja (Kolkata)
   • Kolkata’s Durga Puja is a grand celebration, with massive pandals (temporary structures) erected to worship Goddess Durga. The city comes alive with music, dance, and festive lights.
   • Best places to witness: Kolkata, Siliguri, and Durgapur.
4. Ganesh Chaturthi (Mumbai)
   • In Mumbai, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with grandeur, as massive idols of Lord Ganesha are worshipped before being immersed in the sea with great devotion and fanfare.
   • Best places to witness: Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad.
5. Eid-ul-Fitr (Lucknow)
   • Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated with great fervor across India, but Lucknow’s traditional celebrations, with prayers, feasts, and charity, make it a special experience for visitors.
   • Best places to witness: Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Delhi.

Kerala and India’s festivals reflect the country’s rich cultural and religious diversity. Whether you’re exploring Kerala’s traditional celebrations or traveling across India for harvest, music, and food festivals, these events offer a unique experience that captures the spirit of the land.