Thrissur

Guruvayur UthsavamSpread over ten days, Guruvayur Uthsavam is a festival that is celebrated in the Guruvayur Temple. The festival opens up with an elephant race and presents its viewers with a picture of the cultural, religious, and historical overview of the city through enticing performances presented by artists

Arattupuzha PooramThis is another prime religious festival that takes place some 15kms away from the city, at Arattupuzha Temple, which is home to Lord Ayappa. It is a seven-day long festival that features the largest procession of elephants, and more than two hundred percussion artists perform in the temple.

Peruvanam PooramThis festival offers visitors an insight into the history, culture, and religion of the city of Thissur. Major highlights include the elephant procession and orchestra display.

Ollur Pally PerunnalThis is a Christian festival held at one of the oldest churches in Kerala, called St. Anthony’s Forance Church. It takes place on the 23rd and 24th of October every year and is also known as the Feast of Saint Raphael. It is a colourful festival with the main highlights being umbrellas, vala procession, orchestra, chariots, and fireworks.

Puli KaliOnam is a major festival that is celebrated with extravagance throughout the state of Kerala. Being the cultural capital of the state, Thrissur goes one step beyond to offer another segment, Puli Kali, which is a traditional local art form. The performers dress up like tigers with face masks and tiger stripes all over their bodies. The art form is performed on the fourth day of Onam in different parts of the city. During the dance, one person acts as a hunter while the other chases Puli Kali. The art form adds a different essence to the festival and makes the festival grander for the onlookers.

Buon NataleThis is Thrissur’s unique way of celebrating the festival of Christmas. The festival is conducted by Thrissur’s Archdiocese annually where tourists get to see a parade of people dressed as Santa Claus and Angels! The parade begins at St. Thomas Church and ends at Sakthan Thampuran.