Kerala is not all about backwaters and beaches. It is a land of festivals. Every season brings colors, music, food, and customs that make this place lively. When you travel with Wegomap, you don’t just view destinations; you experience culture. A well-planned Kerala trip package lets you witness real local life, not just tourist spots. The festivals here happen on the streets, at temples, in homes, in villages, etc. People welcome visitors so warmly, and you feel part of the celebration. If you plan your travel at the right time, the whole holiday becomes much more memorable. Some of the best festival experiences you can enjoy traveling across Kerala are given below.
Onam – The Grand Harvest Celebration
The biggest celebration of Kerala is known as Onam. It comes around between August and September. The entire state comes together to celebrate this event for ten days. During Onam, houses are adorned with flower carpets known as ‘pookalam.’ Traditional food is distributed on banana leaves. It’s a vibrant and colorful celebration. During your trip to Kerala, you will be taken to visit homes or celebrations, and you will get to witness these traditions up close and personal. It’s recommended you visit and witness Vallam Kali, which is the popular Snake Boat Racing Event. It’s something you won’t ever forget in your life. Villages come together along the river and cheer loudly, and you get to witness boats racing through the waters. Along with this, you will get to witness other dance forms like ‘Thiruvathira and Pulikali,’ where people even depict themselves as tigers and dance through the streets. It’s a celebration where children and adults have come together to have some fun. If you book our Kerala trip package, you will get to experience this event to its fullest.
Thrissur Pooram – The Festival of Elephants
Thrissur Pooram is one of the biggest and best temple festivals in India. The festival mostly happens during the months of April or May. The best part of the festival is the grand opportunity to see a group of decorated elephants lined up in rows. The elephants are decorated with colorful umbrellas and ornaments. The environment is also filled with music. Traditional drum sets play wonderful beats, and you will feel the beats in your chest. In the evening, a firework display is also a part of the festival that lights up the sky. The firework display lasts for hours. This is no small show, and thousands of people are there to witness the celebration. We have already guided the visitors on how to safely watch this celebration. The best part about this celebration is the pride that is visible on the faces of the people.
Theyyam—A Living Ritual Art
It is not just a show. It is a ritual worship. It is mostly done in North Kerala. There are huge costumes and face paint. The character is playing the role of a god or a hero. When the ritual starts, the character is supposed to turn into the god. It is possible to observe people praying and asking for blessings from the Theyyam character. It is a spiritual feeling. It is usually done in the early hours of the morning or late at night in the temples. This is an insight into the local culture beyond the sightseeing. When you are visiting the places as planned in the Kerala trip package, you can witness the ritual and understand the actual meaning behind the ritual. It is more than a holiday when you book our holiday package to Kerala and visit Theyyam.
Vishu—Kerala New Year Traditions
Vishu is also an opportunity to witness the Malayalam New Year, which falls in April. The most important part of this celebration is the Vishukkani. In this part of the celebration, fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc., are beautifully decorated in front of the mirror. The first glimpse is supposed to bring prosperity for the coming year. Homestays for visitors have the opportunity to witness this celebration closely. Children are usually given gifts during this celebration under the name of Vishukkaineettam. The celebration is quiet and peaceful compared to temple events. This gives an opportunity for visitors to witness the hospitality of the people of Kerala. The simple celebration has relevance for the cultural experience that is part of the Kerala trip package for visitors.
Temple Festivals—Everyday Celebrations
Apart from famous festivals, Kerala has hundreds of local temple festivals throughout the year. Almost every village celebrates its own annual event. These include small elephant processions, folk music, traditional lamps, and night performances like Kathakali or Ottamthullal. These festivals are less crowded and more personal. You have the freedom to move throughout the area while you can interact with local residents and sample traditional snacks that are available at temporary food stalls. The environment creates a feeling of comfort and naturalness. We often include nearby temple festivals depending on your travel dates. This way, your Kerala trip package becomes unique because no two trips are exactly the same.
Ramadan and Christmas—Cultural Harmony
Kerala is hailed for communal harmony. People from different communities come together and celebrate as one. During Ramadan, the evening streets around mosques get filled with food stalls selling pathiri, biryani, and sweets. Visitors can go and savor authentic local tastes. In December, churches start shining with lights and stars, preparing for Christmas. Midnight mass, choir songs, and festive markets ring in a merry cheer everywhere, especially in coastal towns. These celebrations showcase the diversity of Kerala's people and traditions. Many travelers say their Kerala trip package felt richer after they could catch more than one such cultural festival during their stay.
Travel Tips for Festival Seasons
More people are out on the road during festival time, but that also means there is more life on the road. Planning is a must. Hotels and transport are booked early. Wear comfortable clothing that is respectful of local customs. We advise visitors on the importance of appropriate dress and safe viewing spots for the best experience. We encourage visitors to have the best experience possible. We plan for the best experience of festivals, and that is precisely what we offer.
Experience Kerala Beyond Sightseeing
While the state of Kerala has already won our hearts through cameras, festivals make it win our hearts even in reality. The music of drums, aromas of traditional dishes, and smiles of hospitable locals will make our memories long-lasting. While traveling, we don’t want to see places; we want to see how we can relate to them with our culture. Our team at Wegomap plans your travel not by locations but by experiences. Select your dates correctly, and you are on your way to turning your vacation into a celebration.
