Alleppey Festivals and Holidays  

Many festivals in the area are linked to places of worship and make for some interesting photography and participation. The information regarding the exact times of these festivals is somewhat confusing and will be added to the information below once confirmed.

Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple Festival in Mavelikkara February/March draws large crowds of devotees. Processions of floats and the like decorated as chariots, brightly decorated effigies of horses and bullocks make a spectacular pageant and the cultural performances are worth a ‘look-see’.

Sree Krishnaswamy Temple Festival, Ambalapuzha March/April Counted among the great temples of Kerala, the presiding deity at this temple is Lord Krishna. The annual festival lasts ten days. A folk - art form, Ambalapuzha vela performed on each day except the first is one of the main attractions of the festival. From the seventh day, elephant processions are held in the evening. Another important event, on the ninth day, is the Natakasala Sadhya, commemorating the legend of Lord Krishna serving food to the temple drummers.

Sankaranarayana Utsavam Another 12-day long festival, is highlighted by concerts and an all-night long Kathakali performance on the 10th day. The birth day of Lord Krishna, Ashtami Rohini is celebrated with gaiety.

Kanichukulangara Devi Temple Festival, Kanichukulangara The temple celebrates a colourful 21-day festival, commencing with Kodiyettam. Ottanthullal and Garudan Thookkam are the important features of the festival. Aarattu is held on the last evening with a procession of elephants and drummers and concludes with a spectacular fireworks display.

Sree Karthyayani Temple Festival, Sherthalai An annual 7-day festival starts with Kodiyettam and ends with Arattu. Several erthnic programmes and art exhibitions including Kathakali, form part of this cultural fare. On the sixth evening a spectacular pageant is held with elephants as part of the procession.

Navarathri and Thaipooyakavadi Festivals held at the Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple Alleppey celebrates two festivals every year. The nine day Navarathri festival is highlighted by the colourful processions with elephants on the last two auspicious days, and the cultural programmes including Ottanthullal. The onother festival celebrated is the one - day Thaipooyakavadi  Festival in which about fifteen Kavadis (palanquin bearers) take part in a spectacular procession.

Sree Nagaraja Temple Festival, Mannarasala Set amidst thick green forest, this temple is dedicated to Nagaraja (King of Serpents) and its festival is celebrated over two days regularly throughout the year. Devotees with Uruli participate in the Ezhunnallathu conducted on the second day. 'Sarpakalam Pattu', a religious ritual is performed on the Ayillyam day of every Malayalam month and also on Sivaratri.

Sree Bhagavathy Temple Festival, Pazhayaveedu located 3km from Alleppey, celebrates a three - day festival highlighted by a number of religious folk rituals like Kuthiyottam, Padayani and Garudanthookkam once a year. The exact time of this is unavailable at the time of writing, so if you have any information on this, please write to us so that we may share it with other readers.

St. George's Church Festival, Edathua The feast of St. George commences with the flag-hoisting on April 27 and concludes on May 7. Processions take place everyday and the last day's procession is remarkable as the devotees accompany it on their knees or by rolling on the ground. A display of fireworks is held and devotees bring serpents, human organs etc. made of silver and gold as votive offerings.

Champakulam Church Festival The annual feast at this church falls on the 3rd Sunday of October every year and the feast of St Thomas is celebrated on March 19th.

Gosalakrishna Temple, Thiruvanvandoor, Chengannur A ten - day annual festival commences with Kodiyettam and ends with a display of twenty-five elephants. Several folk rituals like Karakattam, Thalapoli, Ammankudam, Kurathiyattam etc. add colour to the festival. A grand snake-boat race is held and many traditional snake - boats (chundan vallam) take part in the race and the procession.

Sree Mahadeva Temple Festival held in, Kalarkadu 4kms from Alleppey,runs for eight days and commences with ceremonial flag hoisting. The highlights are the arts that are presented, like Ottanthullal, Kathakali etc. and the spectacular procession of decorated elephants on the concluding day. The Sivarathri is celebrated in splendour and on this day, Thidampu, the image of the deity, is taken around on a temple chariot called Rishabha Vahanam. Another festival celebrated here is Thiruvathira for which Kathakali are performed by eminent artists.

Note: For more about Kerala’s regional festivals, visit the Trivandrum festivals page and if you want information on festivities throughout the country go to our India Festivals page.