Gajamela or the elephant pageant on the concluding day is the highlight of the 10-day annual festival at the Sree Parthasarathy Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Sree Krishna, known here in the name of Parthasarathy (Partha's charioteer; Partha (Arjuna) was one of the five Pandava princes, the heroes of the epic, Mahabharatha). Nine majestically caparisoned elephants take part in this spectacular procession

The Attuvela Mahotsavam is a water carnival. According to legend, it is the welcome ceremony for the Goddess of Kodungalloor who comes to visit her sister, the Goddess of Elamkavu. The Goddess Bhagavathy is the presiding deity in this small temple. During the two-day Attuvela, beautifully illuminated canoes, carrying a huge replica of the temple, sail down the waters accompanied by hordes of colourfully decorated small canoes and temple percussion music. The procession of canoes starts from Attuvela kadavu, 2 km away from the temple.

The annual festival held in the Malyalam month of Kumbham is one of the most well-known festivals of Kerala. The festival and the temple are dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. Almost all the folk arts of South Kerala are presented at the temple. The all-night Kathakali performances are a must-see for Kathakali buffs.

Some other spectacular features include a Kettukazhcha procession, Kuthiyottam, Padayani, Kolkali and Ammankudam. The Kettukazhcha, a ceremonious procession that draws large crowds of devotees includes brightly decorated structures, the tall and bigger ones assumed as horses and smaller one as chariots, cultural performances forming part of the spectacular pageant.

The temple dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy at Kodungalloor is famous for the annual Bharani festival. It is believed to have been a Shiva temple originally, as worship is offered first to Shiva before being offered to Bhagavathy (Goddess). The image of Bhagavathy at the Kodungalloor temple is believed to have been carved out of a jack fruit tree. The face of the image is covered with a mask and decorated with several pieces of jewellery.

During the annual Bharani festival, the Kodungalloor Bhagavathy Temple would become a beehive of activities. Among the proceedings the most spectacular of events is of course the Kaavu Theendal ceremony. This ceremony is noted for the participation of hundreds of sword wielding oracles (locally known as velichappads) both men and women, who are considered by devotees as the medium to communicate with the Goddess.

Blood and belief blend during the Bharani festival at Kodungalloor. This festival takes place during the Malayalam month of Meenam (March / April). The Kaavu Theendal is the major ceremony witnessed by thousands and is also noted for the Therippattu, which is the singing of obscene songs addressed to the temple deity.

The temple, dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy, celebrates the famous Machattuvela festival with great pomp, pageantry and splendour for five days. The main ritual is on the concluding day. Richly decorated Kuthirakolams (motifs of horses) are ceremoniously brought to the temple by the devotees as offerings. Elephant pageants accompanied by Chendamelam (traditional percussion music) converge in the temple courtyard in the evening, unfolding an extravagant spectacle. Various cultural programmes are held on the festival days.

The temple where this festival is held is unique in that it is dedicated to Duryodhana, the enemy of the virtuous Pandavas, heroes of the epic Mahabharata. This is perhaps the only one of its kind in the whole of India.

The festival highlights include various folk art performances, a Kettukazhcha procession and the Kaala vela. The decorated temple chariot is a beautiful sight.

The annual Perunnal or feast at the Parumala Church in Thiruvalla is to commemorate the death anniversary of Bishop Mar Gregorios Metropolitan, the declared saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church of Kerala. The bishop is interred in the church. During the Orma Perunnal day or commemorative feast, special prayers are offered and rituals performed. There is also a ceremonial procession through the town, attended by devotees from all over the State.

Pattambi Nercha is a festival held in memory of Aloor Valiya Pookunjikoya Thangal, a Muslim saint of Malabar. The festival climaxes in a grand procession of nearly 100 caparisoned tuskers, colourful floats, music concerts like the Panchavadyam (an ensemble of five horns and drums) and the Thayambaka (an ensemble of drums) and folk art forms. The procession concludes late at night on the banks of River Bharathappuzha where the Panchavadyam rises to a crescendo and the art forms take on a spectacular magnificence.

The annual Ratholsavam or chariot festival at the Sree Viswanatha Swamy temple, dedicated to Lord Viswanatha or Siva, is one of the most remarkable of the festivals of Kerala. Kalpathi, an early Tamil Brahmin settlement is also known as Dakshin Kasi or the Varanasi of the South. During the first four days, Vedic recitals and cultural programmes are held in the temple, believed to be over 700 years old. On the last three days, thousands of devotees gather together to draw decorated temple chariots through the streets. This ceremonial procession taken out by a sea of chanting people is a sight to behold.

Tigers, when they are in a jolly good mood, dance! Unheard and unseen in a forest. But it happens in broad daylight on the streets of the Swaraj Round in the town of Thrissur. With the arrival of Onam, Kerala gets busy with many traditional events to celebrate the occasion of Onam; the biggest of all festivals in Kerala. And one such event that continues to cheer and entertain the onlookers is the exciting Puli Kali or the dance of the tigers.

Even though Puli Kali is performed during Onam in many parts of Kerala, it is the one in Thrissur that is famous for its huge turn out of performers and the people who come to witness it. For the performance, the menfolk would have their bodies and faces meticulously painted to resemble tigers. They move in groups and would dance to the tune of percussions and enact scenes of playing hide and seek with a hunter wielding a gun. Besides the typical black and yellow colours of a typical tiger, performers improvise their tiger make-up colours and finally emerge in a riot of colours to entertain the crowd.

Kadammanitta is famous for the Padayani performance at the Devi temple. The Padayani the ritual offering to the mother goddess is a burst of colour, energy and passionate devotion. The festival is celebrated every year from the first day of Malayalam month Medam (Aries) to the 10th day, called the Pathamudayam.

On the Pooram asterism as per the Malayalam month of Chingam (August / September), the precincts of the Palli Bhagavathy Temple in the beautiful village of Neelamperoor in Alappuzha gears up for spectacular Padayani festival. The festival is captivating in many ways, especially for first timers.

Padayani literally means rows of army. The one held at Neelamperoor is different from the padayani performance in other parts of Kerala. It stands out for the massive effigies of swans, the making of which is locally known as Annam Kettu. A colourful procession carrying the effigies of mythological characters is also carried out during the night.

Theyyam, the colourful ritual dance of Kerala is one of the oldest art forms of India. It incorporates dance, mime and music and the rudiments of ancient tribal cultures, which attached great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. An array of theyyams, the fascinating dance form of Kannur, including Chamundi theyyam, Vishnumoorthy theyyam and so on are presented at this festival.

The Kuttikkol Thampuratty Theyyam festival which showcases most of the major Theyyams is a fascinating event. The festival with its psychedelic colour and pageantry is unforgettable.

This is also a festival of Theyyams which is one of the oldest art forms in the country. The Perumthitta Theyyam, at which most of the Theyyam forms are on display, is a truly grand affair. The pomp and splendour of the Theyyamsare truly breathtaking.

Nishagandhi Dance Festival or Nishagandhi Nritya Utsav is held in the month of October and March in the city of Trivandrum. This dance festival is held in Nishagandhi Theatre, in Kanakunnu palace compound

Nishagandhi open-air theatre in the palace compound holds a dance festival every year; renowned artists perform various dances and other arts like Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathak, Odissi, modern ballet and other folk forms.

Artists and connoisseurs of various dance forms from all over India come to enjoy and participate in this cultural treat. The festival is organised by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation and is free for everybody Nishagandhi dance festival is usually accompanied with classical music. It gives a people of various backgrounds a fascinating glimpse of India's rich dance heritage.

The Nishagandhi open-air theatre in the palace compound holds a dance festival every year. Renowned dancers perform Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathak, Odissi, modern ballet and other folk forms. Artist and connoisseurs of dance from all over India come to enjoy this cultural treat. The festival organised by the Tourism Development Corporation is free and is usually accompanied with music. It gives a fascinating glimpse of India's rich dance heritage.

The Soorya classical music and dance festival is conducted for ten days every year in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala State. It starts from 1st October and concludes on the 10th of October

The festival is organized by Soorya Stage and Film Society, one of the largest cultural societies in Asia. Founded by Soorya Krishnamoorthy, the society organises many programs including Dance and Music festivals, film festivals, theatre, painting, photography, lectures and talks, sound and light shows etc. The Dance and Music festival presents different forms of dance like Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Bharathanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam as well as classical music renditions, instrumental music, jugal bandhi's etc by popular artists