Plan your trip · Kozhikode
What's on in Kozhikode
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Kozhikode — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Kozhikode 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 Kozhikode
Kozhikode'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.
Kozhikode's biggest events use its coast and its love of books. The Kerala Literature Festival, usually held in January on the beachfront, brings writers and readers from across India and abroad. The Beypore Water Fest, usually in December, fills the river mouth with boat races and water sports. In the monsoon, the Malabar River Festival brings kayakers to the rivers near Thusharagiri, usually in late July or August.
Religious festivals are just as important. Onam, Vishu, Eid, Christmas and the Revathi Pattathanam at the Tali Temple are all celebrated in the city. Dates change each year, so check the latest schedule before you book.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Kozhikode
- Book your stay early for the Kerala Literature Festival and the Christmas–New Year period.
- Carry water, a cap and sunscreen for daytime events on the beach.
- During Ramadan, visit Kuttichira and the old town after sunset for the evening food.
- Wear modest clothes for religious festivals and processions.
- Keep a rain jacket handy for monsoon events such as the Malabar River Festival.
- Keep your belongings secure in crowds on the beach and on SM Street.
Questions
Kozhikode — FAQ
What are the main festivals and events in Kozhikode?
The Kerala Literature Festival, the Beypore Water Fest and the Malabar River Festival are the biggest events. Onam, Vishu, Eid and Christmas are also widely celebrated.
When is the Kerala Literature Festival?
The festival is usually held over four days in January on the Kozhikode beachfront, with hundreds of speakers and evening performances. Check the dates for the year before you plan your trip.
What is the Beypore Water Fest?
It is a water sports festival held at Beypore, usually in December, with kayaking, boat races, sailing and other events near the breakwater and river mouth.
What is the Malabar River Festival?
It is an international whitewater kayaking event held on the Chalippuzha and Iruvazhinjippuzha rivers near Thusharagiri, usually in late July or August, when the rivers are full from the monsoon.