Vibrant Festivals of Wayanad you should not really miss experiencing

This festival is held every year in the ancient Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathy temple to pay honour to the temple’s main deity, Goddess Bhagavathy, during which the temple witnesses huge crowds of devotees and tourists. The event basically consists of various traditional art forms such as the Theyyam, Thira, Poothanum, Thirayum, and Kaavela. Inducted by the rhythmic beats of traditional percussion, including chenda and maddalam, performers adorned with colourful costumes enact mythological stories and cultural tales. The festival’s primary attraction is the grand procession of the deity’s idol atop an elephant, surrounded by other elephants, and colourful songs to tunes followed by grand fireworks. Valliyoorkavu Festival is an essential event not merely for religious reasons but is also a cultural tourism event that demonstrates Wayanad’s rich cultural heritage. The event brings about oneness among people without any regard for social or geographical differences. It thus becomes a wonderful chance for everyone to bond freely and taste the culture of the place.

Thirunelli Festival is an event of high spiritual and cultural value that attracts thousands of devotees to Wayanad. The event takes place in Thirunelli Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and combines a variety of religious, cultural, and trade activities. The festival is a popular event because the people here believe that taking a bath in the Papanasini River next to the temple is a way to wash away their past sins. The cultural programs are another noteworthy feature of this festival, and they include traditional dance, music, and drama performances. Furthermore, the festival ground has a lot of attractive and colourful stalls that sell different products like locally made goods, souvenirs, and hot snacks. Wayanadians and tourists from all over the state come together to celebrate spirituality, art, and food making the festival an unforgettable experience.

The Puthari Festival in Wayanad is a big event that takes place every year at the end of the harvest season. This festival is the celebration of the total retrieval of paddy, which is the period of fun and feast. It is the time when the agricultural community thanks the deities for a successful harvest season. The festival is marked by various rituals and cultural programs that exhibit the rich cultivation tradition of Wayanad. One of the main rituals is to offer the first grain from the harvest to the deity for a prosperous year ahead. Further, various cultural programs including Theyyam and Thira, music, and drama, are the attractions of this festival. The grand feast held is the apex of the Puthari Festival. The staple dishes made from fresh rice are offered to the community and enjoyed. 

The Wayanad Karivela Festival, the ancient and spiritual ritual of the goddess Bhadrakali is a magnificent way of celebrating the goddess. The festival is held at the Karivela Bhagavathy temple and is mostly famous for its awe-inspiring yet hair-raising ceremony of firewalking, in which devotees walk over a bed of burning coals barefooted. The festival was formed as an act of atonement. Moreover, the days of the festival are dedicated to receiving the Goddess’s blessing for protection and prosperity. The Karivela Festival includes a variety of cultural events, such as dancing, music, and dramas, in addition to firewalking. The festival is all covered with the incense aroma, and the voices of the hymns are heard everywhere, making the participants feel completely mystical, spiritual, and involved. The traditional meals are made and are served on Banana leaves. Thus, it is a time of Unity among the family, community, and people as a whole.

Vishu Festival in Wayanad is a cultural event regarded as the beginning of the Malayalam new year. Often described as the ‘time of joy’, a new start, and togetherness, the festival is linked with multiple rituals and traditions. Vishukkani is the key among them. It is the first sight a person sees when waking up on the day of Vishu. The Vishukkani is an arrangement of several auspicious things such as rice, various fruits, and vegetables, flowers, a golden coconut, and the mudra. These are placed in the traditional vessel, an Uruli, placed in front of a mirror. The belief is that seeing this auspiciousness as the first thing will bring them blessings, and good fortune all year long. Vishukaineetam is another popular custom around Vishu. It is a custom of gifting money to the younger members of the family as a token of good luck. Families in Wayanad also engage in the feast and spend quality time together to pray for good luck, prosperity, health, and success on this day.

This Festival in Wayanad is a colourful and cheerful celebration that honours the rising of Jesus Christ from death. It is an annual feature in the Christian calendar and is celebrated joyfully by the Wayanad Christian Community. The festival starts with a fasting and prayer phase called the ‘Lent’ and lasts for 40 days. It is accompanied by the Holy Week, when the church conducts several services and marches recalling the occurrences culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus and his revival. On Easter Sunday, churches in Wayanad are decorated with flowers and lights, and congregants will gather in masses to recognize Jesus' rising. Thus, the Easter Festival in Wayanad is a spiritual experience for the community, and the event serves as a unifying force that brings joy and celebration to the people of this region.

The Onam Festival in Wayanad is a grand occasion where the legend King Mahabali is believed to return home. However, the Onam Festival is one of the most important festivals in Kerala. Wayanad celebrates the festival with joy and enthusiasm. The Onam Festival lasts for over ten days, and during this period,the people engage in feasting, dancing, and cultural shows. Another significant part of the Onam is the floral carpets made, which are referred to as pookalam. The mats are used to welcome King Mahabali and placed in front of the houses in the morning for the whole period of the festival. It is also a time when people engage in various traditional dance forms such as Kathakali and Theyyam. Additionally, there are also boat races and other cultural activities throughout the festival. However, the most essential element of the festival is the Onasadya grand feast. It involves several traditional dishes served on a banana leaf. Therefore, it is a time when families and the community at large come together to celebrate the festive and togetherness.