traditional. Magnificently sculptured temples, richly woven silks, colourful festivals, cool hill stations and wide beaches. Talking about history of Emperor Ashoka, once nutured great dynasties – the Kadambas, the Hoyasalas, the Chalukyas and the Vijayanagar Emperors. All have left their imprint in the magnificent stonework and the ruins of great cities founded on this plateau of lush tropical jungle, beautiful garden cities and ornate buildings. Similarly a tropical paradise of waving and wide sandy beaches, this thin strip of coastal territory slopes down from the mountain Ghats in a cascade of lush green vegetation. Plantations and forests are everywhere. And canals and backwaters, where ancient craft still leisurely ply the waters, bisect the land throughout the state.
People :
Most of the South Indians with their dark color and heavy lips belong to the Dravidian race or Indo-Aryan stock. They speak languages that are a part of Dravidian linguistic family including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tulu. Konkani spoken mainly in Goa also used frequently in coastal Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Fair & Festivals in South India
Pongal
Season : January
India is bestowed with the bliss of festivity. A major segment of the population here depends on agriculture. As a result, most of the festivals are also related to the agricultural activities of the people. These festivals are celebrated with different names and rituals in almost all the parts of India. Pongal is one of such highly revered festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
Onam
Season : January
Onam, the harvest festival is the most popular festival of Kerala. A festival that celebrates a happy blend of myth and reality, Onam is part of the cultural repertoire of every Malayalee.
Pooram Festival
Season : April - May
Every temple in Kerala celebrates festive occasions with religious devotion and joy. One of the most important temples in Kerala is the Vadakkananthan Temple at Thrissur. The Thrissur Pooram or Temple Festival of the Vadakkananthan Temple, is the grandest Temple Festival in Kerala.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
Season : August
Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most famous of the boat races of Kerala. This annual regatta is held on the Punnamada Backwaters of Alappuzha district on the second Saturday of August.
Hoysala Mahotsava
Season : March
Hoysala Mahotsava is a dance festival held at the magnificent temples of Belur and Halebid in Karnataka in the month of March. The majestic Hoysala temples with their marvelous sculptures make a perfect venue for this cultural festival. The splendid event recreates the grandeur of the bygone era.
Hampi / Vijaynagar Festival
Season : November - December
The festival is organized annually in November-December in the magnificent ruined city of Hampi, which was once the capital of the Vijaynagar empire. Hosted by the State Government, the city comes to life during the lively festival, which includes dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows, and marvelous processions.
