Situated in the Peninsular Deccan Plateau, South India is renowned for its breathtaking architectural marvels, exquisite beaches, sacred temples, and diverse wildlife, all complemented by a rich historical and cultural heritage. Additionally, South India is celebrated for its magnificent festivals, which are observed throughout the year. Annually, numerous tourists are drawn to South India to witness these celebrations, which offer profound insights into the region’s rich diversity and vibrant culture. Therefore, visiting these locations at least once in a lifetime is essential as part of your South India tour packages. To assist you in planning for these festivals, we have compiled a concise list of events in South India where you can fully experience these vibrant festivities. Let’s go through the list here.
Onam
Recognized as one of the most significant festivals in Kerala, Onam is a religious and cultural celebration observed by the Malayali community throughout Kerala, and the world as well. This traditional harvest festival spans ten days and occurs during the Malayalam month of Chingam, typically in August or September, commemorating the annual return of the legendary King Mahabali. During this period, individuals don traditional clothing and prepare intricate local dishes to elevate the festive atmosphere. Renowned for its floral arrangements, elephant parades, snake boat races, tiger dances, and traditional musical performances, Onam attracts thousands of domestic and international tourists to Kerala as part of various Kerala tour packages.
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Mysore Dasara
Known as Nadahabba, Dasara, or Dussehra, this festival stands as the most renowned and regal celebration in Mysore, making it one of the most sought-after tourist places in Karnataka. Taking place annually during September or October, this ten-day event was initiated in the 15th century by the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire and is marked by grand festivities in the city of Mysore. Also referred to as Navaratri, a special Durbar is held at the Mysore Palace, attended by members of the royal family, distinguished guests, officials, and the general public. The centerpiece of the Mysore Dasara festival is the Mysore Palace, which is adorned with nearly 100,000 light bulbs throughout the festival, making it an essential stop in Mysore tour packages. On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession, known locally as Jumbo Savari, takes place through the streets of Mysore, featuring the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop a golden mantapa on a beautifully decorated elephant. The procession is further enhanced by vibrant tableaux, dance troupes, musical bands, and a display of decorated elephants, horses, and camels, attracting thousands of visitors from around the globe.
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Pongal
Pongal is a prominent harvest festival celebrated predominantly in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. Occurring in mid-January, Pongal signifies the commencement of Uttarayan, the Sun god’s ascent towards the North, and the conclusion of the harvest season. This festival serves primarily as an expression of gratitude to the Sun god, who is regarded as the essential source of energy for agricultural growth. The celebration spans four days, beginning with Bhogi, during which participants ignite a bonfire using wooden logs. This is succeeded by Sankranti, Kanuma, and Mukkanuma. A significant ritual involves boiling fresh milk in a new clay pot at dawn, which is deemed auspicious in Tamil culture and symbolizes household prosperity. Consequently, various sweet dishes made from rice boiled in milk are prepared during this festival and offered to the Sun god. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are renowned for their vibrant festive celebrations, making them popular destinations for South India Pilgrimage Packages.
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Hampi Utsav
Celebrated in January, the Hampi Festival is a significant cultural event celebrated in South India. Also known as Vijaya Utsav, this event commemorates the birth anniversary of an ancient poet Purandaradasa who lived in Hampi, among the most famous heritage places to visit near Bangalore. Organized and hosted by Karnataka tourism, this 3-day long festival takes place annually at the Virupaksha Temple in which noted celebrities and artists from every corner of the world are invited to grace the festival with their talent. With things like decorated elephants, embellished architecture and classical dance, puppet shows, firework displays, and music exponents, the festival reminds one about the lavish lifestyle of the colonial era people that lures thousands of people from all over the world as part of Hampi Tour Packages. Apart from the festival, Hampi is one of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage sites in Karnataka.
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Karaga
Karaga is one of the popular festivals in South India and oldest festival of Karnataka. Observed in the months of March or April, this festival celebrates the divine and powerful Draupadi (mythological character in the epic Mahabharata) who saved the lives of her five husbands in the battle of Kurukshetra. Celebrated for 9-days, this is the auspicious festival of Thigala community which is celebrated in honor of Goddess Shakti at the renowned Dharmaraya Swamy temple in Bangalore. During Karaga day, a priest dressed in female attire carries a flower-bedecked pyramid on his head and leads a spectacular procession which is accompanied by breathtaking swordplay by a number of dhoti-clad, bare-chested Thigalars. A unique feature of this festival is the unbroken tradition of visiting the tomb of an 18th-century Muslim saint every year which strengthens the communal bonds between different communities. The power of the deity can be felt in the ambiance and devotees from all over the world come to experience this festival as part of Bangalore Tour Packages.
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Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram is one of the most colorful temple festivals celebrated in the South Indian state of Kerala. Started by erstwhile rulers of Kochi, this festival is celebrated every year on the Pooram day in the month of Medom (April/May) on the premises of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, among the top places to visit in Thrissur. This spectacular 36-hour long event marked with colorful fireworks, percussion, and parading of caparisoned elephants lures lakhs of devotees as well as tourists from across the world as part of Thrissur tour packages. The main attraction of this festival is the grand procession of 30 beautifully decorated elephants carrying the deities accompanied by more than 250 musicians playing folk tunes. One can also enjoy many cultural events like ornamental parasol displays, drum concerts, dance, and music concerts as part of celebrations.
Also Read : Best Places to visit near Kochi
Chithirai Thiruvizha
One of the most popular South Indian festivals, the Chithirai Festival is the annual festival of the most renowned Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, among the prime pilgrimage sites near Chennai. Observed every year in April, this festival commemorates the wedding ceremony of Lord Shiva (Sundareswarar) and Goddess Meenakshi Amman. There are plenty of processions carried out during this 2 week-long festival starting with the flag hoisting ceremony. After the wedding of the divine couple, the celebration moves to Azhagar / Alagar Temple in Alagar Hills close to Madurai, where Lord Vishnu presides as Meenakshi’s older brother Azhagar. The biggest spectacles of the Chithirai Festival are the coronation and precession of goddess Meenakshi, the procession of temple chariots, the celestial wedding of Shiva and Meenakshi, entry of Lord Kallazhagar in the River Vaigai that can be witnessed as part of Madurai Tour Packages.
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Ugadi
Ugadi is a spring-time festival that marks the traditional New Year in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Observed in the month of March/April, it is believed that Lord Brahma created the world on this day and so he is worshiped especially at this time. Lord Vishnu too is said to have incarnated as Matsya, the fish, on this day. During this festival, people decorate their houses with mango leaves, rangolis, a special Gudi flag (garlanded with flowers, mango and neem leaves, topped with upturned silver or copper vessel), and pray for a prosperous new year. Also, people visit the temples to see the yearly calendar Panchangasravanam as priests make predictions for the upcoming year. It is among the popular festivals in South India.
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Mahamaham Festival
Mahamaham Festival is one of the popular festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu in the holy Mahamaham pond in Kumbakonam, one of the must visit pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu. According to legend, Lord Shiva came in the form of a hunter and broke the pot that contained the nectar of immortality when it came to rest here after the great flood ended the world. Thus, the water inside the pot is said to have created the Mahamaham tank. Celebrated once in 12 years, the festivals start with taking a dip in the Mahamaham tank which is believed to be sacred as the tank contains 12 sacred wells that are named after the 20 holy rivers that are flowing across India. During this festival, the river goddess and Lord Shiva rejuvenate its waters and thus taking a dip in the tank is considered very auspicious and draws a large number of devotees as part of Kumbakonam Tour Packages.
Must Read : Best Places to visit near Trichy
Vishu
Celebrated in the month of April, Vishu is the traditional New Year celebration for the people of Kerala and is one of the most celebrated festivals in Kerala. The main highlight of this festival is marked by Vishupadakkam, which means to burst crackers and decorate the house with beautiful lights and candles. The first day of this festival begins with the Vishukani to the Vishu sight for which the arrangements of special articles like raw rice, fresh lemon, golden cucumber, coconut, jackfruit, Kanmashi Kajal, betel and other items that signify prosperity are made in a bell metal vessel known as Uruli. There is one special ritual of Vishukkani that is an assortment of auspicious things that a person must first look at the first thing in the morning to mark a prosperous new year which is a collection of numerous auspicious things like- fruits, grain, vegetables, Lamps, flowers, coconut, gold, mirror, Hindu holy books like- Ramayana or Bhagavatigita.
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