Mango Festival in Thiruvananthapuram

Head to Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds in Thiruvananthapuram between 16th and 26th of June and discover mangoes coming in thousand different sizes, shapes and colors.

Thiruvananthapuram Mango Festival, being organized by Kerala Horticulture Mission and Mango Growers Association is going to a treat for both your eyes and your taste buds.

Read: Ananthapuri Mango Fest, June 16-26, TVM

The event will have mangoes cultivated in different parts of the country. I hope there will be more than a thousand varieties of mangoes. Oh, no hope of tasting them all. It is simply impossible. However, it is possible to see them all.

There will also be mango products - jam, pickles, mango drinks, etc on display. So, if you happen to be in Trivandrum during these eleven days, do visit the Mango Festival (Mampazholsavam - a festival of mangoes).

Onam Celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram City

Onam is the only time when almost the whole of Trivandrum city folk comes out to celebrate. There are quite a few festivals coming and going, nothing can match onam in its festive spirit.

Outside the city, celebrations are far too little in the whole of Trivandrum District, except for isolated celebrations conducted by organizations and people groups.
On Thiruvonam day (Sep 12), my friend Shaji and I drove into the city and there wasn't any sign of festivity, busy traffic or rushes until we reached the junction near Nandavanam police camp. From there on, traffic moves at one inch a minute. Two and four wheelers are parked on both sides of the road and people move tightly packed, as if it is inside a bus, packed three times its capacity.


I don't know what the frenzy is about. Yet, I know the national festival of Kerala is the only occasion to free yourself and let go the inhibitions to fully enjoy the carnival mood.

The city is densely packed and is active till 10 pm, in a city where it goes to sleep at around 8 every day. This occasion is special and I must commend the efficiency of city police to manage such a grand affair without letting any fuss to happen.

Onam Celebrations Over, Thiruvananthapuram Back to Realities

Onam celebrations are officially over in Thiruvananthapuram City and the city dwellers now choose to go back the bustles of their careers and professions. School kids have time till Sunday for their celebrations.

It was a great Onam season at Thiruvananthapuram City that comes to a close. I can clearly tell this is the most hassle-free, trouble free, incident-free celebration in the city. Authorities have made all the necessary preparations to manage the mass event a great success.


I could see policemen and women, literally all over the city extending helping hands to the gatherers. There were also teams of firefighters ready near venues of mass attendance like the Nishagandhi, Poojappura ground, etc.

It was just a wandering through the city on the last day of the celebrations, but was not in the mood to watch Magician Samraj in action at Nishagandhi, although I have visited the ground and made some purchases, especially the sweet halwa from Kozhikode.

Curtains Down for Onam Celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram City

Kerala state capital Thiruvananthapuram is about to come off its festival mood, with the week-long celebrations coming to a close. Sixteen official stages of Onam celebrations within the city amused the city folk to no end. Ganamela (music programs), dance programs, Kalaripayattu (martial art form of Kerala), competitions of various kinds, all added to the festivities.

The ghazals at the Press Club hall and the Ganamela at Poojappura ground were the two items I preferred for the day. I was with my friend Suma Kumar while enjoying ghazals by Raghuram, where the audience could be counted to less than 35. My friend had to leave for home at 8.00 pm and I had to leave too.

Then I am all alone and free to wander on my own and I headed over to Poojappura, where Jassi Gift, Sayanora, Vidhu Pratap, Devanand, etc were amusing the crowd that stayed there inspite of a quick lash of rain. Dancing away in merry, the guys were enjoying the music to end.



Today, there is Magic Show by Prof Samraj at Suryakanti Auditorium.

Onam Celebrations Pick up at Thiruvananthapuram

Last evening I see quite a bit of picking up of celebrations, albeit only around the main venue of Nishagandhi.

Having nothing special to do, I've gone out last evening with a neighbor, who wanted to purchase a new mobile phone. A break came, when spotted the illumination works on either side of MG road.

I never cease to amaze at the acrobatic skills of these guys who ride bikes and cars, literally horizontal to the ground, in a 'well of death'. Like in the previous years, this year too had one such 'well' on the ground before Kanakakkunnu palace.

The well is built up from ground to a height of about 30 ft. Onlookers have to climb that height to enjoy a glimpse of the acrobatic skills. I feel the stand trembling and a whiff of wind reaching my face, as the motorcycles move past me, at a height about my waist line. The only separation between the onlookers and the rubber side of the bike is a three inch wooden wall.

Some feel terrorized at the sight, wind and the feeling of the whole well trembling, while others thoroughly enjoy the skills.

The young men (and a woman on a motorcycle) never seem to care. They make their way, with hands off of the handle bar and steering, while moving at fast pace over the walls of the well. The motorcycles overtake the cars several times.

The museum compound is fully illuminated, but photographing the illumination works was a disaster. Official ONAM celebrations begins only today (Aug 24), and variety of programs like Ghazals, dance programs, music events are expected at various venues like Poojappura Ground, Shankumukham, Neyyar Dam and in the main venue of Nishagandhi.

I post a few photographs I have taken from the MG road, Napier Museum compound and Kanakakkunnu palace ground.

Onam Celebrations in Thiruvanthapuram City

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala once again tries to get into the mood of celebration, this onam season.

Apparently dampened by fever-attacks that stuck several people down, the celebrations in this city have not really taken off, when compared to the spirits of previous years.
Last evening I wandered into Nishagandhi, the main venue for celebrations – where amusement of various kinds and hundreds of merchant stalls are the order of the day.




The ten-day holiday is still away and the carnival grounds didn't start buzzing with the cheers of children. Maybe in the coming days the giant wheel and go-merry-rounds receive the visitors.

Poised take advantage of the spending habits of Kerala people, there were quite a few merchant stalls up and running.

From sweets and food items to finance and investment products, the stalls offer a little variety.

Probably after seeing me wearing spectacles, the guys at the stall of Vasan Eye Care Hospital invited me to take a free sight test, after which they suggested a Zyoiptix laser procedure for refractive corrections. Maybe, I take the treatment, because I want to throw my spectacles away.

There are also a number of stalls for financial and investment products –SBI Life insurance, 5Paisa.com, among several others. A Rat Vanish product that chases rat away, and the one stall by women self help group that sold extremely cheap studded ornaments, a few eatery stalls, and the list is almost complete.

Have you heard about Aranmula mirror made from a metal? Well, there was one stall for Aranmula Kannadi. They sell the mirrors for prices Rs.900.00, Rs.1300.00 & Rs.2300.00. There are however only very limited number of mirrors available. Kerala Mirror is the website of the guys who have set up stalls here.

At the VJT Hall, Thiruvananthapuram is somewhat better trade activity, with shawls, idols, curios, artworks, etc on display.