Ring In The New Year With Cochin Carnival
by Indiator
December is the time for celebrations, from Christmas to the end of the year carnivals and welcoming a new year! December has it all. Moreover, the 10 days long Cochin Carnival ending on the eve of the New Year tops it all.
In the absence of the gloomy overcast skies, sudden downpours of the rainy season and the scorching heat of the summer, December is the best time to visit Kerala. The Cochin Carnival makes it an even more attractive holiday destination during that time of the year.
About The Cochin Carnival
The Cochin Carnival is everything you would want a carnival to be like—a good splash of colours, symphony of music, dance and lots of it, aesthetically appealing art installations, a touch of frenzy with fairs as well as games and sporting events, and a dash of grandeur with beautiful decorated elephants and parades.
The unique and exciting event of the Carnival is when an effigy of an old man is set on fire—a symbolic gesture marking the end of an old year and announcing the beginning of a new one in the Portuguese style of celebration of the New Year and Christmas.
This event is also a testament to how beautifully different cultures have mingled to give birth to something entirely new by way of appreciating the Portuguese culture. The burning of the effigy is the reminiscent of the burning of the Ravana statue during Dussehra in India.
The whole Kerala is decorated beautifully and almost looks like a new bride, and everyone is ready to start the New Year with renewed vigour.
Things To Do At One Of The Biggest Carnivals Of The Country
A visit to Cochin implies Cochin City tour as well, and the carnivalesque environment will add different energy to it all. While you indulge in the city tour these are some of the activities you can participate in:
- Deck up and mingle with the locals to participate in the costume parade. The people at Cochin are amicable, and the tourists are more than welcome to join in all the events of the Carnival.
- A carnival is incomplete without music concerts, so sway along to the rhythm of musical concerts all night long.
- See the biggest Christmas tree ever. What is interesting about this Christmas tree is that it is a Banyan tree—an Indian twist to the Portuguese custom.
- You can also go crazy at different games and sports events such as swimming, cycling, wrestling and even beach volley.
- If you want to explore the lanes and by-lanes from Fort Kochi to the beach, then walk along with the procession and soak in the beauty of traditional music and dance forms.
- Shop till you drop at and around the Vasco da Gama square. Here you will find small souvenirs, accessories, bags, jewellery, clothes and so much more.
Some Other Tourist Attractions For The Insatiable Traveller
There is so much to explore in Cochin that a lifetime will not be enough to capture its beauty and complexity completely. There are some of the top tourist attractions in Cochin:
- A trip to the coastal town of Cochin is incomplete without exploring its beautiful beaches. Head to Cherai beach or Veeranpuzha Beach and bask in the pristine natural beauty of Cochin.
- Take a step back in history at the Hill Palace.
- Mattancherry Palace despite being a Dutch Palace is architecturally similar to a typical traditional Kerala house with a Bhagwati temple at the courtyard.
- Indo-Portuguese Museum celebrates the intermingling of the Indian and Portuguese culture, much like everything else in Cochin.
- Visit the Santa Cruz Basilica and the St Francis Church to appreciate the Christian part and European heritage off Cochin.
- Explore one of the oldest Jewish Churches, the Paradesi Synagogue.
- If you are a nature and bird lover, then do not miss the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary.
- Folklore Museum—a celebration of the folk art and folk culture.
With all its festivities and colourful decorations and attires, the Cochin Carnivals are one of the best places to spend some quality time with your family and friends.
You can either plan the tour on your own if you like a more personalized trip or you can check out Kerala tour packages for the family if you are more accustomed to pre-planned tours.
Suggested Tour
Recommended Posts
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING INDIA
March 15, 2024
Travel Like The Royals: Luxury Train Tours in India
March 11, 2024
