Festivals

Vishu is Kerala’s astrological New Year, celebrated around April 14th/15th, marking prosperity, new beginnings, and the vernal equinox (equal day/night). Key traditions include waking up to the Vishu Kani (a symbolic arrangement of fruits, rice, coins, mirror, and golden shower flowers) for good fortune, elders giving Vishu Kaineettam (money gifts to younger ones), feasting on special dishes like Sadhya, and bursting firecrackers. Key Aspects of Vishu:

The Karivela festival isn’t a distinct major festival in Wayanad, but Karivela is a specific ritual seen at Kerala temple festivals, involving devotees covering themselves in black paint/charcoal as fierce warrior-attendants for the Goddess, especially popular in Palakkad (like Nenmara Vallangi Vela) and other parts of Kerala, but Wayanad celebrates its own harvest festivals like Puthari and temple festivals like Thirunelli Vishu. What Karivela is:

Puthari is a major harvest festival celebrated in Wayanad (and Coorg) marking the new rice harvest, involving rituals like cutting the first paddy sheaves at night, offering them to deities, and feasting on special dishes like Thambuttu, filled with cultural performances, traditional music, dances (like Theyyam), and community celebrations, thanking nature for abundance. It typically falls in November or December, linked to the sun entering Scorpio.  Key Aspects of Puthari in Wayanad/Coorg:

The Thirunelli Festival is a vibrant cultural and religious event at the ancient Thirunelli Temple in Wayanad, Kerala, especially during the Vishu (Malayalam New Year in April) and a local “Thirra” festival, featuring traditional dances (Ottanthullal, Kathakali, tribal arts like Kolkali), rituals for departed souls, and celebrating local agriculture, drawing devotees for holy dips in the Papanasini River amidst serene mountain settings.  Key Aspects: Timing: Celebrated around April during Vishu and also for a local “Thirra” festival, often in March. Significance: A major event honoring Lord Vishnu, attracting pilgrims for purification rituals in the Papanasini River.

The Valliyoorkavu Temple Festival is a vibrant 14-day annual event in March-April (Malayalam month of Meenam) at the historic Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathy Temple in Wayanad, Kerala, celebrating Goddess Durga in her three forms (Vana Durga, Bhadrakali, Jala Durga) with spectacular tribal dances, folk art, rituals like Kalamezhuthu, and attracting thousands of devotees from all over. It’s a major cultural highlight featuring unique tribal performances and traditional art forms, showcasing the rich heritage of the region.  Key Highlights of the Festival: Duration & Timing: A 14-day festival held annually in March-April.Deities: Dedicated to Goddess Durga, worshipped as Vana Durga, Bhadrakali, and Jala Durga.Performances: Features captivating tribal dances and folk art, unique to the region.Rituals: Includes traditional rituals like Kalamezhuthu (drawing intricate designs with natural powders), Oppana varavu, Abhishekam, and Rudhirakkolam.Significance: A major event for thousands of devotees and a significant cultural display.Location:The temple is located near Mananthavady in Wayanad, Kerala, about 24 km from Kalpetta, accessible via local transport or taxi.