Maramadi Festival (Bull Race)
Maramadi festival alias Maramadi Mahotsavam/ Matsaram is a peculiar ox race conducted in Anandapalli, a small village in Pathanamthitta (3 kms away from Adoor) during the harvest season; i.e in August. This festival which draws thousands of tourists, is celebrated annually as part of the largest agricultural and cattle fair in the region.

The race is conducted in a vast stretch of freshly ploughed paddy fields locally called 'Kandam'. A pair of specially trained oxen managed by three persons form a participating unit and nearly 30 such units participate in the race. The race starts by noon and continues up to sunset. The winners are awarded with trophies, cash prize and gold medals. It is a highly competitive and thrilling event and almost all villagers gather around the field and cheer the participants. This festival has a close resemblance to the jackpot race.

Maramon Convention
Maramon, located about 13 kms from Pathanamthitta and 16km east of Thiruvalla, is in Kozhencherry taluk. It is the birth place of Abraham Maplah Palakkunath, the leader of renovation of the Malabar Syrian Church in the19th century. Maramon convention is the largest Christian gathering in Asia conducted once in a year in February for a period of 10 days, on the banks of river Pamba below the Kozhencherry bridge. A large number of people from different parts of the world irrespective of caste, creed and religion gather here for listening to the word of God explained by prominent Christian leaders from all over the world. The religious readings and songs give spiritual inspiration and enlightenment to the devotees and make them feel more close to God.

The convention is organized by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, a missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church. The preparation starts about a week before, by erecting a large pandal with cadjan leaves and bamboo poles which can accommodate about 100,000 people. Since 1896, Maramon has become a meeting place of culture and tradition of Indian Christianity. The convention promotes co-operation and union between different sections of Churches in Kerala.

Contact Address : 
Marthoma Evangelistic Association, 
Thiruvalla, Kerala, Pin :- 689101
Phone : + 91 - 0469 - 2630587
Fax : + 91 - 0469 -2731699.
E-mail : Contact I , Contact II

Aranmula Vallmakali (Uthrittathi Boat Race)
Aranmula Vallamkali, the water fiesta of Aranmula (10 kms from Chengannur and 16kms from Pathanamthitta) during Onam (September), owes its origin to the Sree Parthasarathy Temple situated on the banks of the Pamba river. The vallamkali, associated with the annual temple festival, is usually held on the last two days of the festival. The event that attracts tourists from all over the world, is conducted not to win any trophy or prize but to celebrate the anniversary of the Sri Krishna idol installation, the main diety at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple. It is conducted in the Pamba River in front of the temple to commemorate the crossing of the river by Lord Krishna.

Around 39 to 41 palliyodams (snake-boats) participate in this colourful carnival. The Snake boats which resemble a snake with its hood raised, has a length of about 100 ft or 35 m, the rear portion towering to a height of about 20 ft. while the front tapers gradually. This boat can accommodate up to 120 people including oarsmen, singers and helmsmen. The oarsmen wear white dhotis and turbans. The occupants in the boat carry ornamental umbrellas of silk and gold.  The golden Aranmula Vallamkali, the water fiesta of Aranmula (10 kms from Chengannur and 16kms from Pathanamthitta) during Onam (September), owes its origin to the Sree Parthasarathy Temple situated on the banks of the Pamba river. The vallamkali, associated with the annual temple festivalornamental cloth fixed at the head of the boat, the flag and the colorful parasols at the center make it a spectacular show of pageantry too.

Offerings and prayers to Lord Krishna are held early in the morning on the day of the race as the snake boats assemble near the temple. The race is commenced in the afternoon and the boats take off in pairs to the rhythm of full throated singing and shouting. The participants row up and down the river to the tune of songs known as 'vanchipattu'. The occupants carry banners and decorated silk and gold umbrellas. After the water sport there is an elaborate feast in the Aranmula temple. Aranmula Vallamkali, organised under the sponsorship of Palliyoda Seva Sangam, is more of a water festival than a competition. For the past few years, the Central Tourism Ministry has been providing financial assistance for preserving and promoting this legendary snake boat race, believed to be in existence for the past 1,000 years.

Cherukolpuzha Convention
Ayiroor Cherukolpuzha religious convention is a convention of the Hindus conducted at Cherukole on the banks of the river Pamba in the month of February every year. Large number of people gather here to attend the speeches held by prominent religious scholars and cultural personalities.