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| Fairs and Festivals |
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Onam-The National Festival of Kerala | Vishu | Navarathri | Mahasivarathri | Makaravillakku at Sabarimala | Thrikarthika | Thiruvathira | Christmas | Easter | Ramadan | Eid-Ul-Fitr | Eid-Ul-Zuha | Milad-Ul-Nabi | Muharram | Gramam(Village Fair) | The Great Elephant March | Nishagandhi Dance Festivals | Flavour Food Festival | Attukal Pongala | Vetta and Arattu | Sarkara Devi Temple, Chirayinkeezhu | Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, Ulloor | Aruvippuram Siva Temple, Aruvippuram | Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna Temple | Christ the King Church | Beemapalli, Trivandrum
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| Sarkara Devi Temple, Chirayinkeezhu. |
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18 Kms from Trivandrum, this temple is rated high among the Bhagavathi temple of Kerala. Two festivals are celebrated here every year. The most important "Bharani utsavam" is a 10- day event commencing with Koodiyattam.The concluding day is masked by a unique ritual "Garudan thookam".
The Kaliyoothu Maholsavam is unique in many ways "Kalitooth" is folk ritual lasting 8 days and conducted by the village heads, commemorating the fight between Goddess Bhagavathi and demon, Darika. The climax is thrilling and is enacted on a stage erected 100 Ft. high. It is a visual treat.
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| Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, Ulloor. |
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Dedicated to Lord Subramanya , this temple is just 7 Kms from Trivandrum. Of the two festivals celebrated, the Koodiyattom festival lasts eight days. Commencing with 'Koodiyattom' and ending with 'Aarattu' the highlights of the festival are the Kathakali and other dance performances.
Aarattu has its usual splendour with elephant processions and temple music. "Thypooyam" is a colourful festival, Kavadiyattom, a ritual dance carrying Kavadis is the main event. More than 300 Kavadies participate.
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| Aruvippuram Siva Temple, Aruvippuram |
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This temple assumes great historical and social significance, since, when tradition strictly allowed only Brahamins to install deities, here a non Brahmin, reputed social reformer Sree Narayana Guru did it breaking the centuries old Brahmin monopoly.
One of the important festivals celebrated here is Sivarathri.Apart from the religious convention participated by eminent scholars, several cultural programmes are also held.
A traditionally ornamented elephant carries the image of the deity in a grand procession in the evening and the festival concludes with the Arattu. Another festival celebrated is Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi, birthday of the great reformer.
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| Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna Temple, Manthara, Varkala |
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The annual festival of this temple is a two -day celebration. On the last day is the Arattu and a procession takes place in the evening with nine caparisoned elephants and folk arts Ammankudam and Mayilattam. Another festival celebrated is a dayong Ashtamirohini, the birthday of Lord Krishna.
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| Christ the King Church, Vettukad, Thiruvananthapuram |
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Festival of the Christ the King is on the last Sunday of October. High Mass, Vespers, a two-hour long Holy Eucharistic procession and benediction are the highlights of the festival.
Nativity feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also celebrated with religious spirit.
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| Beemapalli, Trivandrum |
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This shrine, dedicated to the memory of Beema beevi, a pious muslim lady believed to have been endowed with extraordinary powers, is situated about 5 kms south west of Trivandrum.
A ten-day festival, known as Chandanakuda Mahotsavam is celebrated to commemorate the death anniversary of Beema Beevi, starting from the first of Jamadul Akbar (March - April) of the Hijra Year.
Earthern pots known as Chandanakudam smeared with sandalwood paste, their mouths covered with white cloth, garlands tied around the neck, three incense sticks thrust into the cloth covering and filled with coins, are brought by the devotees as offering.
Inside the shrine , a purification ritual known as Ratheeb is conducted and art forms like Dharamuttu, Vadithallu etc are staged. On the last day, a spectacular procession led by a couple of caparisoned elephants, panchavadyam, Dharamuttu etc is held and a thundering display of fireworks marks the conclusion of the festival.
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