Plan your trip · Bekal
What's on in Bekal
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Bekal — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Bekal right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Bekal
Bekal's calendar works around the monsoon — the big outdoor events sit either side of it, and the wettest weeks are the quietest ones for anything held in the open. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Across Kerala
Onam
🗓️ August–SeptemberTen days of flower carpets, feasting on a banana-leaf sadya, and snake-boat races on the backwaters.
Planning: The state effectively stops for it; book houseboats and trains well ahead.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Bekal's biggest event is the Bekal International Beach Festival, usually held at Bekal Beach Park at Pallikkara in the last ten days of December, with music, dance, food stalls and local art forms. The rest of the year, the calendar is shaped by theyyam, north Malabar's ritual performance, held at shrines across Kasaragod district from late October to May.
Onam is celebrated across Kerala in August or September with flower carpets and sadya feasts. Theyyam and temple festival dates follow the Malayalam calendar and change each year, so check the dates before you plan your trip around them.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Bekal
- Book your stay early for the beach festival and the Christmas and New Year weeks.
- Many theyyams take place at night or before dawn, so plan transport both ways in advance.
- Keep a respectful distance from theyyam performers and do not block their path.
- Ask before photographing people, and do not use flash during rituals.
- Dress modestly for temple festivals, with shoulders and knees covered.
- Carry water, as festival crowds and humidity can be tiring.
- Keep your belongings secure in crowded areas.
Questions
Bekal — FAQ
When is the Bekal International Beach Festival?
It is usually held in the last ten days of December at Bekal Beach Park in Pallikkara. Check the dates for the year before you book.
What is theyyam?
Theyyam is a ritual form of worship from north Malabar, in which performers in painted faces and huge headdresses are believed to become the deity. It is held at local shrines with drumming, fire and chanting, often through the night.
Can tourists watch theyyam near Bekal?
Yes. Visitors are generally welcome to watch at shrines, as long as they dress modestly, stay quiet and keep out of the performers' way. Ask local people or your hotel which shrines have theyyam during your stay.
How is Onam celebrated in Bekal?
Onam, in August or September, is celebrated at home and in temples with pookalam flower carpets, new clothes and a sadya feast. Many shops and offices close for the main days.