Vaikathashtami Festival

Vaikathashtami Festival

The Vaikathashtami Festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and is held during November or December at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple.  This annual celebration held at the temple is a 12 day long affair, held during the dark lunar fortnight in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam.

The Ashtami falls on the last day, and at dusk, deities from neighbouring temples are brought in a ceremonial procession. All the deities are worshipped and offered presents, and then an Arattu is performed in a pond close to the temple. The festival also features various classical dances and cultural celebrations.

Chottanikkara Makam

Chottanikkara Makam is an auspicious day observed at the Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple. The Murti of Goddess Bhagavathy is given a ritual bath, after which it is accompanied by Lord Shastha and eleven elephants to an open ground until noon. The deity is clothed in regal attire and adorned with jewels. It is also believed that prayers offered during this time will be answered.

Maha ShivratriMaha Shivratri at Aluva

Maha ShivratriMaha Shivratri at Aluva

This festival is observed by Hindus who offer prayers to Lord Shiva, the God of destruction. According to Hindu the mythology, it was on Shivratri (meaning, the night of Shiva) that he performed the Tandava Nritya – the dance of primeval creation, preservation and demolition.

Here in Kerala, Sivarathri is celebrated in the month of Kumbham (February-March) with all day fasts, reciting the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” and singing hymns praising Lord Shiva. The crux of the Sivarathri celebration is at the Siva Temple at Aluva, on the banks of the Periyar river. There is a Siva Lingom (idol) that emerges out of the sand on the river bank that attracts thousands of pilgrims.

Wonderla

Rides galore await at Wonderla Amusement Park, home to adrenaline-inducing roller coasters, water slides, and children's games. Other family-friendly attractions include a wave pool and a musical fountain. You won't run out of rides and activities on your visit to this amusement park, which also houses numerous eateries and shops. 

Kochi

A flourishing port city and magnet for the spice trade since the 15th century, Kochi (Cochin) proudly bears its distinct international influence and local Keralan culture. Chinese and Arab trade industries as well as British, Dutch, and Portuguese colonialism have left their marks here, including in the Victorian and colonial architecture and Catholic churches visible around the city. However, local Keralan cuisine and a contemporary cafe and gallery scene give the city a fresh, cosmopolitan vibe. Among the most popular things to do in Kochi is a visit to the historic Jewish neighborhood, which still includes a 16th-century synagogue and shops that sell the spices and embroidery traded by this community for centuries. A trip to Kochi should also include walks along the beach, where fishers bring in the day's catch in boats and sculptural Chinese fishing nets, and the sunset lights up the Arabian Sea.