Center of Activity: Fort Kochi Held in: Last week of December Main Attraction: A massive procession of caparisoned elephants The Cochin Carnival is a merrymaking feast held annually in Fort Kochi, Kerala in the last week of December. Dating back to Portuguese New Year revelries during colonial times, it has evolved into a party atmosphere for youth featuring unique games and illumination. The highlight is a massive New Year's Day procession led by a caparisoned elephant accompanied by music and drums.

1. Center of Activity: Fort Kochi
Time of Celebration: Last week of December
Main Attraction: A massive procession of caparisoned elephants, games and partying
If there is one festival the whole of Kochi impatiently awaits every year, then it's the Cochin
Carnival held in the last week of December. Fort Kochi is decked up like a bride and tourists,
not only from within the country, but also outside, flock to this lovely port city to participate
in the revelry. The inception of the Kochi carnival can be traced back to the Portuguese New
Year revelry, held here during the colonial days. Gradually, it evolved to take the form of
what is today popularly called the Cochin Carnival of Kerala.
Preparations generally begin months in advance for hosting the unique games, fairs and
partying during the Carnival of Cochin. Dressed up in fancy dresses, everyone, children in
particular, is seen bursting with enthusiasm. The highlight of the carnival is the massive
procession on the New Year's Day. Led by an embellished elephant accompanied by drums
and music, the carnival is a moment to behold. There is also staging of different South and
North Indian folk dances during the festivity.
Color white simply dominates the concluding 10 days of December, during the Kochi
Carnival. All establishments in the city don white paper buntings. The available space on the
streets host impromptu competitions and multi-faceted celebrations. Kalam Vara (floor
drawing), tug-of-war, bicycle race, swimming in the sea, beach volleyball are some of the
programs that take place during the Cochin Carnival at Fort Kochi. The festivities and
revelries continue till midnight of December 31st with fireworks marking the grand finale.
Celebrated In : Cochin, Kerala
Centre of Activity : Fort Kochi
Held in : Last week of December
Main Attraction : A Massive Procession of Caparisoned Elephants
Cochin Carnival is a merry making feast observed during the last week of every year in
Fort Kochi in Kerala. The carnival dates back to the Portuguese New Year revelry held
here during the colonial days. It has evolved as an occasion for the youth to enjoy the
party-like atmosphere. With unique games, competitions and illumination during these
days, Fort Kochi puts on a festive look. The highlight of the Carnival is the massive
procession on the New Year Day.
The procession is led by a caparisoned elephant accompanied by drums and music,
spectacular floats, different folk art forms, Panchavadyam etc. north indian dances also
figure in the festivities.
Cochin Carnival
Held annually in the last week of the year in Fort Kochi, this merry making feast is
observed to welcome the New Year. Dating back to the times of Portuguese during the

2. colonial days, it has evolved with time as a party time for the young hearts with its
unique games, competitions and illumination. However, the highlight of the Carnival
remains the huge procession on the New Year Day, complete with a caparisoned
elephant leading it, drums and music, spectacular floats, myriad folk art forms,
Panchavadyam and even North Indian dances.
Starting since Solidarity Day on December 22, it is a ten-day long festival and is usually
ended by a flag-off in dignified silence to pay tribute to the brave martyrs who died
while fighting for their motherland. It was revived in 1984, and has now gained immense
popularity and all the activities organized during the Carnival are centred around its five
main slogans, namely, Participation, Peace, Progress, Adventure and Environment.
Besides the adventure sports like Beach Bike Race and Sea Swimming, there are Beach
Football, Beach Volleyball, Shuttle Badminton and Ball Badminton Tournaments are
organized during the course of the festival.