Boat Race
The Stretch of riverpamba at Aranmula about 10 km from Chengannur is the venue of the famous snake boat race. It is more a pageantry than a race. The snake boat is of an extra ordinary shape with a lenth of about 100 ft. The rear portion towering to a height of about 20 ft and the front portion tapering gradually.The boat resembles a snake with its hood raised. The race is held on the last day of the week long Onam festival to commemorate the crossing of the river by Lord Krishna. The participants cheerfully row up and down the river to the tune of songs known as Vanchippattu.
Thiruvabharanam Procession
The Thiruvabharana Sacred Treasures of Lord Ayyappa, which is preserved in Pandalam Palace, will be taken to Sabarimala as a grand procession. The procession starts in first week of January, only to reach at Sabarimala on Makara Sankrathi Day second week of January. The procession is a religious experience, with huge number of people accompanying the 3 chests of treasures each held by one selected person. The procession will be accompanied by armed battalions of police, various religious bands and traditional accompaniments, which stops at all major temples, enroute. The spectacular sight is that, the sacred Krishnaparutthu Lord Garuda- the sacred eagle of Lord Vishnu appears before Pandalam Palace, which signs the start of procession and escorts the procession by flying over the procession, untill reaching Sabarimala. On reaching Sabarimala, the Garuda flies around the temple for 3 times, before disappearing.