Festivals

In Thrissur, Christmas is celebrated with a unique blend of spiritual solemnity and record-breaking public festivities that reflect the city’s pluralistic culture. The highlight of the season is Buon Natale, a massive Christmas parade organized by the Thrissur Archdiocese that famously holds a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, the iconic Our Lady of Dolours Basilica (Puthenpally)—the tallest church in India—is brilliantly illuminated, drawing thousands for the midnight mass and beautiful nativity displays. Families celebrate with traditional Kerala delicacies like plum cake, homemade wine, and a grand feast featuring appam with stew or spicy chicken curry. The spirit of the season extends through the week with vibrant street markets, carol singing competitions, and charitable initiatives that unite the entire community in a message of peace and harmony.

The Kuthira Pooram, most notably celebrated as Machad Mamangam (or Machad Kuthira Vela), is a vibrant and unique festival held at the Thiruvanikkavu Temple near Wadakkancherry in Thrissur. Unlike most Kerala poorams that feature elephants, this festival is famous for its competitive procession of giant wooden horse effigies (Kuthirakolams) handcrafted by five participating villages. These intricately decorated, life-sized horses are carried on the shoulders of devotees who dance to the powerful beats of traditional percussion ensembles like the Pandi Melam. Legend says the festival began when a local king, unable to source live horses for a competition, ordered the creation of these artificial replicas to rival the elephant pageants of neighboring towns. This high-energy event usually takes place in February (the month of Kumbham), turning the post-harvest paddy fields into a spectacular arena of color, strength, and local pride.

Pulikali, literally meaning “Tiger Play,” is a high-energy folk art performed on the streets of Thrissur on the fourth day of Onam to celebrate the harvest season. Hundreds of men, and increasingly women, paint their bodies in vibrant shades of yellow, red, and black to resemble tigers and leopards, often using their pot bellies to mimic the animal’s face. These “human tigers” dance to the rhythmic and powerful beats of traditional percussion instruments like the Udukku and Thakil, enthralling massive crowds at the Swaraj Round. Introduced over 200 years ago by Maharaja Sakthan Thampuran, the festival features various “Sangams” (troupes) competing for the best body painting and creative floats. This grand finale to the Onam celebrations is a unique blend of drama, art, and community spirit that turns the city center into a colorful, roaring carnival.

Vishu marks the astrological New Year in Kerala and is celebrated as a festival of prosperity and new beginnings, typically falling on April 14 or 15. The day begins with Vishukkani, where families view a sacred arrangement of auspicious items like golden cucumbers, coins, and yellow Konna flowers as their first sight at dawn. This is followed by Vishu Kaineettam, a heartwarming tradition where elders gift money to younger members to share wealth and blessings for the year ahead. In Thrissur, the Guruvayur Temple becomes a major focal point, with thousands of devotees queuing for hours to catch the “Kani Darshanam” of Lord Krishna. The celebrations conclude with a grand Vishu Sadhya, a feast featuring a balance of salty, sweet, sour, and bitter flavors to represent the varied experiences of life in the coming year.

Onam is Kerala’s grand harvest festival, celebrated over ten days to welcome the mythical and benevolent King Mahabali back to his kingdom. In the “Cultural Capital” of Thrissur, the festivities are uniquely vibrant, featuring intricate Pookalams (floral carpets) at every doorstep and the world-famous Pulikali (Tiger Dance) at the Swaraj Round. Families gather for the Onam Sadhya, a lavish vegetarian feast with over 25 dishes served on banana leaves, symbolizing abundance and equality. The city transforms with street parades, traditional folk dances like Kaikottikali, and illuminated public spaces that capture the spirit of unity. For 2026, the main celebration of Thiruvonam will fall on August 26, marking the grandest day of joy and homecoming for all Keralites.