Utsavam 2026 – Month-wise Kerala Temple Festival Guide
Introduction
Kerala’s temple festivals, collectively known as Utsavams, are vibrant celebrations blending devotion, tradition, music, elephants, fireworks, and community participation. Utsavam 2026 features a rich calendar of Poorams, Vilakku Ezhunnallippu, Panchavadyam, and ceremonial processions held across different months. Below is a month-wise breakdown of the major festival dates and highlights as observed in the attached festival schedules.
Month-wise Festival Content
January Temple Festivals 2026
January marks the beginning of the festival season with spiritually significant rituals and flag hoisting ceremonies.
Key Highlights:
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Special poojas and traditional offerings
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Early season elephant processions
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Devotional percussion performances
Festival Focus:
Temple rituals, daily poojas, and ceremonial beginnings set the tone for the year’s Utsavams.
February 2026 – Fireworks & Processions
February Poorams and Cultural Events
February hosts several visually grand festivals with illuminated temples and fireworks.
Key Highlights:
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Night fireworks displays
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Caparisoned elephant line-ups
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Traditional chenda melam performances
Festival Focus:
Cultural vibrancy and community gatherings dominate February celebrations.
March 2026 – Grand Pooram Celebrations
March is one of the busiest festival months, featuring major Poorams with large crowds.
Key Highlights:
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Massive elephant processions
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Kudamattam (decorated umbrella exchanges)
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Panchavadyam and Pandimelam
Festival Focus:
Spectacular Poorams showcasing Kerala’s iconic temple festival traditions.
April 2026 – Vishu Season Utsavams
April Temple Festivals & Vishu Celebrations
April combines Vishu festivities with temple Utsavams.
Key Highlights:
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Vishu-related rituals
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Special morning poojas
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Traditional art performances
Festival Focus:
A blend of New Year celebrations and spiritual observances.
May 2026 – Summer Poorams & Vilakku Ezhunnallippu
Despite summer heat, May remains active with Poorams and Vilakku festivals.
Key Highlights:
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Evening processions
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Temple illumination (deepam)
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Percussion ensembles
Festival Focus:
Devotional endurance and vibrant nighttime celebrations.
June 2026 – Monsoon Utsavams
Monsoon season ushers in spiritually intense but modestly attended festivals.
Key Highlights:
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Rain-soaked temple rituals
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Traditional offerings
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Smaller processions
Festival Focus:
Pure devotion and ritual significance.
July 2026 Temple Rituals & Festivals
July focuses more on rituals than grand spectacles.
Key Highlights:
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Special homams and poojas
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Minimal fireworks
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Temple-centric observances
Festival Focus:
Religious discipline and ritual purity.
August 2026 – Onam Season Celebrations
Festivals & Onam Utsavams
August blends temple festivals with Onam cultural celebrations.
Key Highlights:
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Onam-linked rituals
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Cultural programs
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Temple feasts
Festival Focus:
Harmony of cultural heritage and temple traditions.
September 2026 – Post-Onam Utsavams
Temple Festivals
Festivals continue at a calmer pace post-Onam.
Key Highlights:
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Community-focused celebrations
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Ritual processions
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Traditional music
Festival Focus:
Local devotion and temple heritage.
October 2026 – Navaratri & Special Poojas
Navaratri Temple Events
October is marked by Navaratri and goddess worship.
Key Highlights:
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Saraswati pooja
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Cultural performances
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Special alankarams
Festival Focus:
Spiritual learning and divine feminine worship.
November 2026 – Deepam & Night Festivals
Temple Utsavams
November festivals emphasize light and night rituals.
Key Highlights:
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Deepam (lamp festivals)
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Night processions
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Percussion-led celebrations
Festival Focus:
Illumination and ceremonial beauty.
December 2026 – Year-End Utsavams
The year concludes with devotional and cultural events.
Key Highlights:
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Special poojas
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Community gatherings
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Preparations for next year’s festivals
Festival Focus:
Gratitude, devotion, and festive closure.
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