A pair of pan-Indian festivals are also big in Kerala. Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of lights celebrated between mid-October and mid-November. Symbolizing spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, it like Vishu is also fairly home- and family-centered, with Keralans adorning their dwellings inside and out with oil lamps and/or candles, having family feasts, lighting fireworks, and exchanging gifts. Also, Sharad Navratri, honorring the Hindu goddess Devi, involves staging of folk dances and the immersion or burning of statues representing evil over nine nights twice a year (March/April and September/October).

Read more in Tripatini contributor Go with IPR´s post The Traditional Culture of Kerala, South India: Art, Performances, and Festivals.