Kerala is known for its beautiful and rich cultural festivals. This includes the widely celebrated Onam festival. Learning about Malayalam words for cultural festivals is not only essential to appreciate the festivals themselves but also to kickstart your Malayalam learning journey!
In this article, we will talk about the most popular festivals in Kerala, where the festive spirit of Keralan people is wide awake. There’s more—we will also tackle the significance of each festival, as well as the words associated with them. Let us begin this Malayalam language journey, filled with rich cultural heritage!
Overview Of Malayalam Cultural Festivals
Understanding the major festivals that take place in Malayalam-speaking regions in India is the first step to appreciating them and their cultural significance. Below is an overview of the prominent festivals in Kerala and when they take place in a year.
1. Gramam Festival: This festival offers a glimpse into Kerala’s rich cultural heritage with fortune-tellers, craftsmen, and historical displays. This unique celebration occurs in mid-January and features stands selling handcrafted articles.
2. Onam Festival: Onam is Kerala’s most popular festival, celebrating the annual visit of King Mahabali. This ten-day extravaganza in August-September showcases Kerala’s art, music, and literature.
3. Makara Jyothi Festival: It involves worshiping Lord Ayyappa and signifies the conclusion of the Sabarimala pilgrimage that starts in November. This festival holds great cultural and religious significance in Kerala.
4. Thrissur Pooram Festival: Thrissur Pooram is Kerala’s grandest temple festival, featuring caparisoned elephants, divine processions, and lively music. It lasts 36 hours and occurs in April-May, showcasing Kerala’s rich traditions.
5. Theyyam Festival: Theyyam is a ceremonial dance in North Kerala, blending dance, mime, and music to honor heroes and ancestral spirits, held annually from December to April.
6. Vishu Festival: The start of the Zodiac New Year is celebrated in April-May. It is believed that the first sight upon waking on Vishu morning predicts the year ahead.
7. Attukal Pongala Festival: Attukal Pongala, celebrated at Kerala’s Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, is a 10-day festival that begins in February-March. Don’t miss this blend of culture, stories, and vibrant rituals!
8. Thiruvathira Festival: The Thiruvathira Festival is a week-long celebration dedicated to honoring Lord Shiva, who defeated Kamadeva, the God of Love. This cultural event is in December-January, on the full-moon night of the Tamil month of Margazhi.
Malayalam Words For Cultural Festivals
Gramam Festival
Gramam Festival is an annual event in a Kerala village, recreating traditional rural life with Nalukettu houses and local tearooms, showcasing fortune-tellers, craftsmen, and historical displays. Below are the words associated with the Gramam festival.
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Dance Performances | നൃത്തപ്രകടനങ്ങൾ | Nritha Prakatanangal |
| Traditional Music | പരമ്പരാഗീതം | Paramparageetham |
| Folk Art Displays | നാടൻ കലാ പ്രദർശനങ്ങൾ | Naadan Kalaa Pradarshanangal |
| Craft Exhibitions | കരകൗശല പ്രദർശനങ്ങൾ | Karakaushala Pradarshanangal |
| Cultural Workshops | സാംസ്കാരിക ശിൽപശാലകൾ | Saamskarika Shilpashaalakal |
Onam Festival
Onam, the harvest festival, is one of the most famous festivities (in fact, it’s a national festival!). It features beautifully designed Pookalam (floral art), a delicious Onasadya feast, a thrilling famous boat race, and the lively Kaikottikali dance, making it a culturally significant and vibrant festival in Kerala. Below are the words to know that will get your Onam festival enjoyment going!
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Floral Arrangement | പൂക്കളം അലങ്കരണം | Pookkalam Alankaranam |
| Traditional Feast | ഓണസദ്യ | Onasadya |
| Clapping of Hands (Kaikottikali) | കൈകൊട്ടിക്കളി | Kaikottikali |
| Snake Boat Races | വള്ളംകളി | Vallamkali |
| Traditional Games | പരമ്പരാഗേമുകൾ | Paramparagemukal |
Makara Jyothi Festival
Makara Jyothi is an annual festival celebrated with enthusiasm in Kerala at the Sabarimala temple. Filled with worship of Lord Ayyappa, it marks the end of the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The words that relate to the festival are listed below.
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Temple Worship | ക്ഷേത്രാരാധന | Kshethraaraadhana |
| Pilgrimage | തീർഥയാത്ര | Theerthyathra |
| Offering Prayers | പ്രാർത്ഥനകൾ | Prarthanakal |
| Traditional Rituals | പരമ്പരാഗീതങ്ങൾ | Paramparageethangal |
| Lighting Lamps | ലൈറ്റിംഗ് ലാമ്പുകൾ | Litting Laambukal |
Thrissur Pooram Festival
Kerala’s grandest of temple festivals, Thrissur Pooram, showcases caparisoned elephants, divine processions, and lively music. What we can see next are the words associated with the festival.
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Elephant Processions | ആന ഘോഷയാത്രകൾ | Aana Ghoshayaathrakal |
| Traditional Music | പരമ്പരാഗീതം | Paramparageetham |
| Fireworks Display | കരിമരുന്നുപ്രയോഗം | Karimarunnuprayedhagam |
| Drum Performances | ചെണ്ടമേളം | Chenda Melam |
| Decorated Umbrellas | പരമ്പരാസാജിയായ ഉമ്ബ്രളകൾ | Paramparasajiya Umbrellas |
Theyyam Festival
Theyyam festival features over 400 unique performances, each with elaborate headdresses and ornaments. Here are some of the words to get you going to the festivities.
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Ritualistic Dance | പൂജകളി | Poojakali |
| Elaborate Costumes | വിപുലമായ വസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ | Vipulamaaya Vasthrangal |
| Invocation of Gods | ദൈവങ്ങളുടെ വിളി | Daivangalude Vili |
| Traditional Music | പരമ്പരാഗീതം | Paramparageetham |
| Artistic Body Paint | കലാപരമായ ബോഡി പെയിന്റ് | Kalaaparamaaya Bodi Paat |
Vishu Festival
Vishu is a festival in Kerala that marks the start of the Zodiac New Year, when the sun enters Sidereal Aries, and is known for its special meal with a mix of salty, sweet, sour, and bitter flavors. The words that are related to the Vishu festival are listed below.
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Vishukkani Arrangement | വിഷുക്കണി അനുമോദനം | Vishukkani Anumodanam |
| Special Meals (Sadya) | വിശുസദ്യ | Vishusadya |
| Firecrackers | പടക്കം | Padakam |
| Floral Decorations | പൂക്കളം അലങ്കരണം | Pookkalam Alankaranam |
| Traditional Rituals | പരമ്പരാഗത ആചാരങ്ങൾ | Parambaraagatha Aachaarangal |
Attukal Pongala Festival
The Attukal Pongala festival features captivating storytelling and colorful processions, symbolizing the victory of Good over Evil. Here are the words associated with the festival.
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Lighting Lamps | വിളക്കുകൾ പ്രജ്വലിപ്പിക്കുക | Vilakukal Prajwalippikuka |
| Offering Prayers | പ്രാർത്ഥനകൾ അര്‍പ്പിക്കുക | Prarthanakal Arppikkuka |
| Cooking Ritual | വിളക്കുകൾ പ്രജ്വലിപ്പിക്കുക | Vilakukal Prajwalippikuka |
| Floral Offerings | പൂമൂലം അര്‍പ്പിക്കുക | Poomoolam Arppikkuka |
| Temple Procession | ക്ഷേത്ര പ്രദർശനം | Kshetra Pradarshanam |
Thiruvathira Festival
Women play a central role in the festivities, waking up early to worship Lord Shiva with flowers and fruits. They also participate in folk dances and perform Thiruvathira songs during this festival. Here are the words to get your Thiruvathira festival going!
| English Translation | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
| Worship of Lord Shiva | ദേവൻ പൂജിക്കുന്നു | Devar Poojikkunnu |
| Folk Dances | പൗരാണിക നൃത്തങ്ങൾ | Pauranika Nrithangal |
| Devotional Songs | ഭക്തിഗാനങ്ങൾ | Bhakti Gaanangal |
| Offering Flowers | പൂക്കൾ അര്‍പ്പിക്കുക | Pookal Arppikkuka |
| Garland Making | മാലകൾ തൈക്കുന്നു | Maalagal Thaikkunnu |
Learn Malayalam With Ling
If your goal is to study more about the Keralan culture, learning its language is a must! This will not only make your learning more convenient, but it will allow for a more in-depth understanding of its customs, people, and traditions.
In fact, the Ling app has got you covered with the resources you need to learn Malayalam! Want to learn about sentence structure in Malayalam? Ling has got your back! You can also continue studying the language by downloading the Ling App on the Play Store or App Store. You can access Ling’s engaging and gamified content whenever and wherever you are. Give it a try today and begin your Malayalam journey!
