Kerala is a land of festivals. Festivals of Kerala range from the most famous celebrations like Snake Boat Races, Cochin carnival, Onam & Vishu to local events like Payippad Boat Race and Thutha Pooram. Festivals of Kerala give you a glimpse of the rich heritage of the state. Each of the Kerala festivals is celebrated with much splendour as well as the show. For culture-vulture, the best time to visit God’s Own Country is during Kerala festivals. Each of these Kerala festivals is celebrated and enjoyed by people from different sects, regions and religions with fun, enthusiasm and gaiety ensuring religious and communal harmony.
Onam is the national festival of Kerala celebrated for the coming of King Mahabali. Around this Kerala festival, the whole state gets drenched in the festive spirit, marked with delicious dishes, dance, music, rituals, and boat races.
Watching the Kerala boat race is one of the enthralling Kerala festivals that one should not miss while on a trip to Kerala.
The 800-year-old Theyyam is one of the most popular festivals of Kerala that flaunts folk dances and art.
The temple festival of Kerala gives a glimpse of the religious tradition of Kerala and is a must-see for those who are fascinated by the pomp of Kerala’s culture and traditions. Thrissur Pooram is the biggest and most gala temple Kerala festival that one cannot afford to miss.
Vishu marks the beginning of the Malayali year and is the most important Kerala festival.
Another popular festival of Kerala is Attukal Pongala that is dedicated to Attukal Devi and brings together women of all caste, religions, and colours.
Owing to the strong Christian community, Christmas is one of the biggest festivals in Kerala.
Ambalapuzha Arattu is another famous Kerala festival that lasts for 10 days dedicated to Lord Kri
Here are the photographs of some famous Kerala festivals & celebrations
However, the dates of each of these Kerala festivals change every year as per the Malayalam calendar and we have created a ready reckoner for you to refer to if you are planning to visit Kerala in 2020.
Kerala Festivals in 2020
| Kerala Festival | Celebrated Place | Date | Type of festival |
| Swathi Sangitholsavam | East Fort – Thiruvananthapuram Dist | 04 Jan 2020 to 14 Jan 2020 | Music Festival |
| Avoor Utsavam | Avoor – Kollam Dist | 14 Jan 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Kanjiramattom Nercha | Kanjiramattom – Ernakulam Dist | 14 Jan 2020 | Muslim Festival |
| Thaipooya Mahotsavam | Koorkancherry – Thrissur Dist | 08 Feb 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Neroth Peratoor Sri Bhagavathy Kshethram Utsavam | Neroth Peratoor Sri Bhagavathy Kshethram | 19 Jan 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Arthungal Perunnal | Arthungal – Alappuzha Dist | 20 Jan 2020 | Christian Festival |
| Pattambi Nercha | Pattambi – Palakkad Dist | 01 Mar 2020 | Muslim Festival |
| Adoor Gajamela | Adoor – Pathanamthitta Dist | 04 Feb 2020 | Elephant Pageant |
| Machattu Mamangam | Wadakkancherry – Thrissur Dist | 18 Feb 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Pariyanampetta Pooram | Kattakulam – Palakkad Dist | 20 Feb 2020 | Elephant Pageant |
| Kuttikkol Thampuratty Theyyam | Kuttikkol – Kasaragod Dist | 23 Feb 2020 | Theyyam |
| Uthralikavu Pooram | Wadakkancherry – Thrissur | 25 Feb 2020 | Elephant Pageant |
| Aluva Sivarathri | Aluva – Ernakulam Dist | 21 Feb 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Parippally Gajamela | Parippally – Kollam Dist | 2 Mar 20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Chettikulangara Bharani | Chettikulangara – Alappuzha Dist | 29 Feb 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Chottanikara | Chottanikara – Ernakulam Dist | 8 Mar 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Ettumanur Utsavam | Ettumanur – Kottayam Dist | 3 Mar 2020 | Temple Festival |
| Konganpada | Chittoor – Palakkad Dist | 10 Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Jaganadha Temple | Thalassery – Kannur Dist | 17 Feb 20 | Temple Festival |
| Guruvayoor Aanaottam | Guruvayoor – -Thrissur Dist | 22 Feb 20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Guruvayoor Utsavam | Guruvayoor – Thrissur Dist | 22 Feb 20 | Temple Festival |
| Chinakkathoor Pooram | Palappuram – Palakkad Dist | 19 Feb 20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Attukal Pongala | Attukal – Thiruvananthapuram Dist | 12 Feb 20 | Temple Festival |
| Thirunakkara Arattu | Thirunakkara – Kottayam Dist | 23 Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Valliyoor Kavu | Valliyoor Kavu – Wayanad Dist | 15 Mar 20 | |
| Ambalapuzha Festival | Ambalapuzha – Alappuzha Dist | 11Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Puthoor Festival | Puthoor – Palakkad | 15 Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Chamayavilakku | Kottankulangara – Kollam Dist | 24 Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Kottakkal Pooram | Kottakkal – Malappuram Dist | 24 Mar 20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Malanada Kettukazhcha | Poruvazhi – Kollam Dist | 27 Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Attuvela Mahotsavam | Vadayar – Kottaym Dist | 26 Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Kodungalloor Bharani | Kodungalloor – Thrissur Dist | 27 Mar 20 | Temple Festival |
| Nenmara Vallangi Vela | Nenmara – Palakkad Dist | 2 Apr 20 | Temple Festival |
| Muchilottu Kavu Theyyam | Muchilottu – Kannur Dist | 2 Mar 20 | Theyyam |
| Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram | Angadipuram – Malappuram Dist | 5 Apr 20 | Temple Festival |
| Cherthala Karthiyayani Temple | Cherthala – Alappuzha Dist | 5 Apr 20 | Temple Festival |
| Othara Patayani | Othara – Pathanamthitta Dist | 6-Apr-20 | Ritual |
| Peruvanam Pooram | Peruvanam – Thrissur Dist | 8-Apr-20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Arattupuzha Pooram | Arattupuzha – Thrissur Dist | 11-Apr-20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Palm Sunday | Celebrated all over Kerala | 13-Apr-20 | Christian Festival |
| Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple Painkuni Utsavam | East Fort – Thiruvananthapuram Dist | 14-Apr-20 | Temple Festival |
| Kadammanitta Patayani | Kadammanitta – Pathanamthitta Dist | 14-Apr-20 | Ritual |
| Chamakkavu Kettukazhcha | Mavelikkara – Alappuzha Dist | 15-Apr-20 | Temple Festival |
| Thirunelli | Thirunelli – Wayanad Dist | 15-Apr-20 | Temple Festival |
| Mathoor Vinayaka Temple | Thottakara – Thrissur Dist | 15-Apr-20 | Temple Festival |
| Vishu | Celebrated all over Kerala | 15-Apr-20 | Kerala New Year |
| Easter | Celebrated all over Kerala | 20-Apr-20 | Christian Festival |
| Puthunjayar | Malayattoor – Ernakulam Dist | 27-Apr-20 | Christian Festival |
| Edathuva | Edathuva – Alappuzha Dist | 27-Apr-20 | Christian Festival |
| Palayoor Church | Palayoor – Thrissur Dist | 6-May-20 | Christian Festival |
| Thrissur Pooram | Thrissur Town -Thrissur Dist | 9-May-20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Kudal Manickam | Iringalakuda – Thrissur Dist | 10-May-20 | Temple Festival |
| Thutha Pooram | Thutha – Palakkad | 13-May-20 | Elephant Pageant |
| Kottiyoor Utsavam | Kottiyoor – Kannur Dist | 10-Jun-20 | Temple Festival |
| Champakkulam Boat Race | Champakkulam – Alappuzha Dist | 11-Jul-20 | Boat Race |
| Njangattiri Aanayoottu | Pattambi – Palakkad Dist | 18-Jul-20 | Ritual |
| Nehru Trophy Boat Race | Punnamada – Alappuzha Dist | 9-Aug-20 | Boat Race |
| Athachamayam | Thrippunithura – Ernakulam Dist | 29-Aug-20 | Onam Festival |
| Thiruvonam | Celebrated all over Kerala | 7-Sep-20 | Onam Festival |
| Payippad Boat Race | Payippad – Alappuzha Dist | 8-Sep-20 | Boat Race |
| Kumarakom Boat Race | Kumarakom – Kottayam Dist | 8-Sep-20 | Boat Race |
| Aranmula Boat Race | Aranmula – Pathanamthitta Dist | 10-Sep-20 | Boat Race |
| Pulikali | Swaraj Round – Thrissur Dist | 11-Sep-20 | Onam Festival |
| Feast of Vallarpadathamma | Vallarpadam Church, Kochi | 16-Sep-20 | Christian Festival |
| Neelamperoor Patayani | Neelamperoor – Kottayam Dist | 23-Sep-20 | Ritual |
| Panachikadu Festival | Panachikadu – Kottayam Dist | 25-Sep-20 | Temple Festival |
| Navarathri Festival | East Fort – Thiruvananthapuram Dist | 25-Sep-20 | Temple Festival |
| Mullackal Utsavam | Mullackal – Alappuzha Dist | 25-Sep-20 | Temple Festival |
| Navarathri Sangitholsavam | Thiruvananthapuram | 25-Sep-20 | Music Festival |
| Urakam | Urakam – Kottayam Dist | 4-Oct-20 | Temple Festival |
| Thiruvullakavu | Cherpu – Thrissur Dist | 4-Oct-20 | Temple Festival |
| Vettikode Ayilyam | Vettikode – Alappuzha Dist | 11-Oct-20 | Temple Festival |
| Attangyeru at Thirumandhamkunnu | Angadippuram Malappuram Dist | 18-Oct-20 | Ritual |
| Thripoonithura Poornathrayesha Temple | Thripoonithura – Ernakulam Dist | 26-Oct-20 | Temple Festival |
| Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple Alpashy Utsavam | East Fort – Thiruvananthapuram Dist | 31-Oct-20 | Temple Festival |
| Parumala Perunnal | Parumala – Pathanamthitta Dist | 2-Nov-20 | Christian Festival |
| Vallathol Jayanthi Varshikam, Kalamandalam | Kerala Kalamandalam – Thrissur Dist | 9-Nov-20 | Dance Festival |
| Mannarasala Ayilyam | Mannarasala – Alappuzha Dist | 14-Nov-20 | Temple Festival |
| Kalpathi Ratholsavam | Kalpathi – Palakkkad Dist | 14-Nov-20 | Temple Festival |
| Payyannoor Subramaniya Swami Temple | Payyannoor – Kannur Dist | 17-Nov-20 | Temple Festival |
| Chembai Sangitholsavam | Guruvayur – Thrissur Dist | 18-Nov-20 | Music Festival |
| Vaikathashtami Festival | Vaikom – Kottayam Dist | 29-Nov-20 | Temple Festival |
| Parassinikadavu , Kannur | Parassinikadavu, Kannur | 2-Dec-20 | Temple Festival |
| Guruvayoor Ekadasi | Guruvayoor – Thrissur Dist | 2-Dec-20 | Temple Festival |
| Kadampuzha Devi Temple | Kadampuzha – Malappuram Dist | 5-Dec-20 | Temple Festival |
| Perumthitta Tharavad Kottamkuzhy | Kottamkuzhy – Kasaragod Dist | 7-Dec-20 | Theyyam |
| Mullackal Cherappu | Mullackal – Alappuzha Dist | 16-Dec-20 | Temple Festival |
| Christmas | Celebrated all over Kerala | 25-Dec-20 | Christian Festival |
| Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam | Kanathoor – Kasaragod Dist | 28 Dec 20 | Theyyam |
| Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2020 | Kochi | December 12, 2020, onwards | Art Festival |
| Cochin Carnival | Kochi | Last week of December | Celebration |
In Kerala, Malayalam calendar, the local traditions and customs determine the festival dates. Some of these dates will change according to the local customs and rituals associated with each festival. Even though we have tried to make these dates as exact as possible, please recheck the dates again before making a plan to visit these Kerala festivals.
Plan your trip to Kerala with us and attend these festivals of Kerala to get a better understanding of the culture of God’s own country.
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