South India is the region that covering the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, Karnataka, as well as the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. It has occupied 19.31% of India’s area. It is known that south India is the home of various forms of classical dance. Of the six classical languages used in India, four are from south India. We also know that South India is a great place for travel and tour.
Besides that South Indian is also recognized for its famous festivals throughout the year. The peoples of south India are very enthusiastic about their festivals. The popular festivals they enjoy are described below.
Onam – Onam, a festival celebrating prosperity and fertility, is celebrated during the harvest season in Kerala. It gathers people together from different castes, communities, and religions that celebrate the harvest for years together. The myth behind Onam is that a legendary king named Mahabali came to test his concerns during this time of the year. The festival is being enjoyed for 10 days, but the first and last days are very significant throughout the festival. The women wear special white sarees in this region with traditional gold beams and perform a number of occasions such as pukkalam that people paint in front of their homes.
Thrissur Pooram – However another annual festival is celebrated in Kerala, celebrated at the notorious Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur. The festival starts with the moon rising with the Pooram star. It showcases the beautifully decorated elephants, a number of fireworks, percussion music, and decorated parasols glorifying the Keralite culture. King Ram Burma, King of Cochin, started the festival in the early 1700s and is celebrated every year from April to May. There is a charming musical presentation that is superior to the festival in the name of Ilanjithara Melam that is performed during the celebrations.
Pongal- Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu on January 5 every year, their most popular festival. It is considered auspicious in Tamil culture to mean the translation of the word Pongal when milk emerges from an earthen vessel. It represents the prosperity of the family. In the course of this festival, people prepare various sweet foods with rice cooked in milk, which is then given to the Sun God. Also as part of the celebration, other sweet foods are made from sugarcane syrup, turmeric, and cereals cut at this time. The actual festival goes on for 4 days as per the rituals.
Mysore Dasara – The Mysore Dasara festival is celebrated once a year between October and September. This festival is celebrated for 9 days across the country as Dussehra. However, Mysore Dasara is the episode of his eyes who loves bloodshed. The palace is equipped with more than one million light bulbs.
Hampi Festival – The Festival of Victory, known as the Vijaya Festival, is one of the largest celebrations in the historic city of Hampi in South India. The festival is held in early November each year and includes special performances such as music, dance, and puppet shows. It has been celebrated since Vijayanagar’s rule. Fireworks, as well as decorative pumps, were also staged during the festival.
Vishu – This is the traditional New Year Celebration for the people of Kerala, which takes place in April. The main attractions of the festival are identified by Vishupadakkam, which means bursting crackers and decorating the family with lights and candles. The festival also has a special ritual of offering money to each other, known as Vishukkaineetam. Also, there is a special program of Vishukkani which is an assortment of good things that a person must see first thing in the morning on the occasion of the first prosperous New Year. The treasury contains things like yellow flowers, betel leaves, fruits, rice, metal mirrors, coins, etc.
Chithirai Thiruvizha – This is the annual celebration of the city of Madurai which is the longest festival in the world celebrated for a month. According to the Tamil calendar, Chithirai is celebrated in the month, which is usually a glorious month-long festival in April, really one of them. The first fifteen days of the festival dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi and the next fifteen days celebrate the journey of Lord Azhar from the Kallaghagar Temple in Alagar Koyal to Madurai.
Karaga – Karaga is one of the oldest festivals in the state of Karnataka, it is one of the major festivals of the Thigala community in Kerala. This is a good festival of the Thigala community, which according to popular legend includes a mythical army who helped Draupadi fight a demon. There is a hearsay that within 9 days through the festival the power of the deity is felt in the spirit which usually occurs in March or April.
Ugadi – It is a celebration for the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, but in other parts of the country, the festival is celebrated under different names. The name itself proposes the beginning of a new era. One of the highlights of the festival is the infamous Ugadi Pachadi, which is a special sauce cooked to celebrate the New Year.
Mahamaham Festival – Truly a unique festival which is celebrated once every 12 years in Kumbakanam, Tamil Nadu, it indicates the enlightenment. The festival is celebrated 12 years later when Jupiter enters the sign of Leo according to Hindu astrology when it is considered auspicious to be immersed in the sacred Mahamaham tank on the day of the festival.
