Top 7 Festivals of South India

South India is very rich in cultural and traditional aspects as you can find people of different religions living their life in accordance to their faith and trust and their belief.
Like there are different kind of people in South India living together and so there are different kinds of festivals which are celebrated with great harmony among the people. Religion does not play a factor in enjoying the festivals as anyone and everyone can be a part of it. There are various festivals celebrated in South India, and to make it a point that you do not lose an opportunity of attending these festivals we are specifying the list of top 7 festivals in South India.

Onam: Onam is regarded as the most popular festival celebrated in Kerala and thereby is celebrated in the months between August and September. It is celebrated for ten continuous days and signifies the home coming of the King Mahabali who supposedly belonged to the Golden Era of Kerala. People wear new clothes, decorate their houses with flowers and make a variety of food items in this festival. Carnival with Elephants, Kathakali dance, music, boat races and fireworks are associated with the festival.

Pongal: Also known as the festival of harvest, the Pongal festival is celebrated mainly by the farmers of Tamil Nadu so as to show a form of gratitude to the animals, the rains and the sun who help in the cultivation of their agricultural lands all year long. It is celebrated for four continuous days and each day has significance of its own. The Hindus clean their houses, wear new clothes and the ladies of the house make special sweets for the festival. It is believed by them that the Pongal festival shall bring wealth and happiness to their houses.

Adoor Gajamela: This is a ten day festival celebrated at the Parthasarathy Temple in Adoor, Kerala. The festival is a form of dedication to Lord Krishna. Thereby in the festival about nine elephants are assembled near the temple in their ceremonial attire and later it is these Elephants who have always been a symbol of royalty that is ever since the historic times, enthrall the spectators. Thousands of people are attracted to this massive festival in Kerala.

Kumbha Bharani at Chettikulangara: It is this festival which is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy at the Mavelikara Kayamkulam road in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. In this festival there are various dazzling decorated structures which precede the procession towards the temple. This temple is also known as the Kumbha Mela of the South and is celebrated in the month of January or February.

Arattupuzha Pooram: It is the majestic festivals and Elephants which are regarded as the pride of South India. This festival is celebrated in a very famous Ayyappa temple called Arattupuzha and thereby it is this festival which is known as “the greatest Devamela on earth” as the procession with the idol of Lord Arattupuzha are accompanied with a great number of devotees and as many as about 61 Elephants.

Champakkulam Boat Race: Considered as the largest team sports in the world, the Keralan boat races

are just spectacular. It is this boat festival which is held in the Champakkulam village which indeed is in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. It is celebrated in the month of July and a huge crowd of people standby the river banks to see the race.

Kottiyoor Utsavam: This festival is an ancient Hindu pilgrim festival and is celebrated each year in the month of May or June. It is devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the mountain valleys of Sahya which indeed have abundant amount of natural beauty. The festival is a combination of several rituals in which the procession and the priest play an important role.