Plan your trip · Thrissur
What's on in Thrissur
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Thrissur — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Thrissur 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 Thrissur
Thrissur packs most of its outdoor calendar into the cooler months; the pre-monsoon peak is hot enough that daytime processions are genuinely hard going. 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.
Thrissur Pooram
🗓️ April–MayCaparisoned elephants, competing temple processions and a percussion ensemble hundreds strong.
Planning: Enormous crowds and real heat — hydrate and arrive early for a viewing spot.
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.
Thrissur's biggest festival is Thrissur Pooram, held on Thekkinkadu ground in the Malayalam month of Medam, usually in late April or early May. Led by the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples, it brings rows of decorated elephants, the Ilanjithara Melam and Panchavadyam drum ensembles, and the kudamattam, when the two sides compete by lifting sets of bright, sequinned parasols from the elephants' backs. The fireworks usually go on in the early hours of the next morning.
The other date to know is the fourth day of Onam, usually in August or September, when Pulikali troupes painted as tigers dance around Swaraj Round to the beat of drums. Festival dates follow the Malayalam calendar and change each year, so check them before you book, and book rooms early for Pooram in particular.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Thrissur
- Book accommodation weeks or months ahead for Thrissur Pooram.
- Arrive several hours early to find a viewing spot on Thekkinkadu ground.
- Carry water, wear a hat and light cotton, and take breaks in the shade; Pooram falls in the hottest season.
- Stay well back from the elephants and follow police and volunteer instructions.
- Keep your phone and wallet secure in the thick crowds.
- Carry earplugs if you are sensitive to noise, as the drums and fireworks are very loud.
- Arrange transport home in advance, as roads around the Round are closed or jammed.
Questions
Thrissur — FAQ
What happens at Thrissur Pooram?
The Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples bring processions of decorated elephants to Thekkinkadu ground, with huge drum ensembles. The highlight is the kudamattam, a colourful parasol display in the evening, followed by fireworks in the early morning.
What is Pulikali?
Pulikali is a folk dance in which men painted as tigers in yellow, black and red dance through Swaraj Round to drums. It is held on the fourth day of Onam, usually in August or September.
Can tourists watch Thrissur Pooram?
Yes. Pooram takes place on the open ground around the Vadakkunnathan Temple, so anyone can watch, whatever their religion. Be ready for heat, noise and very large crowds.
Are there other Pooram festivals near Thrissur?
Yes. Many temples around Thrissur hold their own poorams in the dry months, and the Arattupuzha Pooram, south of the city, is one of the oldest. Dates change each year, so check locally.