Thrikarthika is another festival which is celebrated in the month of Vrichikom (November-December). Display of lights in the evening is an important part of the festival Deepavali , the festival of light is celebrated by the display of fire works and bursting of crackers.The 41 day of Mandalam season beginning with the first day of the month of Vrischikom (November-December) is sacred to the Hindus. The 41st day which coincides with the Makaravilakku in Sabrimala is the concluding day of the festival. The observance of certain vrathams of fasts is resorted to which the Hindu consider sacred to certain deities. The most important of these is Ekadasi considered sacred to Vishnu. At the Sri Krishna Temple, Guruvayoor, the Great Eakadasi festival is held annually for five days in the month of Vrischikom (November- December). Sashti the sixth day is sacred to Subramanya and Pradosham the thirteenth day to Shiva. Devotees spend these days in fasting and devotional excercises. Full moon is also observed as a day of fast. The New Moon days in Makaram (January-February) and Karkatakam (July-August) are particularly important for the performance of Sradha. Karkataka Vavu is almost like a festival day in Trivandrum

Maramon and Kozhencherry , on the banks of the river Pampa, 16 kilometers east of Tiruvalla, have for centuries been recognised as centres of Christian culture and influence. Maramon is also famous as the birth place of Palakkunnathu Abraham Maplah, leader of the reformation in the Syrian Church of Malabar in the 19th century. This village which developed into a town has the added distinction of being the venue of a religious gathering known as Maramon convention, said to be the largest Christian gathering in Asia. It is during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the river Pampa below the Kozhenchery bridge that the Maramon Convention is held every year. The Maramon Convention displays co-operation and union between different sections of Church in Kerala. It fosters ecumenical outlook. It is also a source of spiritual inspiration and enlightenment for thousands.

The feast of sacrifice, Idul-Adha, in India pronounced Idul Azha and popularly known as Baqri Id, is celebrated on the tenth day of the month Dhu'l Hijja. It is the sacrifice made by the pilgrims and performed as part of the ceremonies of the great pilgrimage. While the pilgrims are making their sacrifices at Mina, the ceremony is observed simultaneously by Muslims everywhere. It is prescribed in the Quran. "That is the command, and who so magnifieth the offerings consecrated to Allah, it surely is from devotion of the hearts".

Therein are benefits for you for an appointed term; and afterward they are brought for sacrifice unto the ancient House.

And for every nation have We appointed a ritual, that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that he hath given them for food; and your God is One God, therefore surrender unto Him. And give good tidings (Muhammad) to the humble.Whose hearts fear when Allah is mentioned, and the patient of whatever may befall them, and those who establish worship and who spend of that We have bestowed on them.And the camels! We have appointed them among the ceremonies of Allah. Therein ye have much good. So mention the name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines. Then when their flanks fall (dead), eat thereof and feed the beggar and the suppliant. Thus have We made them subject unto you, that haply ye may give thanks.Their flesh and their blood reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him. Thus have We made them subject unto you that you may magnify Allah that He hath guided you. And give good tidings (0 Muhammad) to the good."

Miladi Sharif or Nabi-Dinam, the Birthday celebration of Prophet Mohammed, is a major Muslim festival in Kerala and falls in the month of July. The most important event of the festival is the recital of 'Moulood', a short biography of the Prophet written in Arabic.

During the first twelve days of the month, right-long discourses are conducted by Muslim Ulemas to enlighten the people on various aspects of the life of the Prophet. Large scale feeding of the poor form part of the celebrations. Colourful processions are also held.

Muharam is one of the four months declared sacred by Allah in the Holy Qur'an.The other three months are Rajab, Dhul-Qi'da and Dhul-Hijja.In verse 59 of Sura An Nisa, Allah says:"O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and "Ulil Amr" (Those who are authorized to command) from among you."

The believers always obey Allah, obey His Messenger and the "Ulil Amr" appointed by Him. It is an open invitation. Because, Laa Ikraaha Fid Deen [There is no compulsion in religion] (Al-Baqarah, 2:56). Those who (in truth) are not believers can do what they want.

Likewise Prophets, Messengers, sent down by Allah to guide and warn people, never accepted anyone at all as Prophet or Messenger, whatever the circumstances were, be it that they did not stop claimers of this kind, or opponents, with application of force or repression.In the same manner Imam Ali Ibne Abi Talib (A.S.) did not recognize anyone as "Ulil Amr".His elder son Imam Hasan (A.S.), like his grandfather, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) [Treaty of Hudaybiah], let Mua'awiyah be the ruler, but did not give up his rights of the "Ulil Amr", which he was at that time.

When Yazid became the ruler he threw to the wind the earlier policy of the rulers not to demand "Baya't" (oath of obedience) from the children of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), and began to exercise pressure upon Imam Hussain (A.S.) to swear loyalty and acknowledge him as the "Ulil Amr", which the Holy Imam rightly refused. It is another aspect of the whole affair that Yazid was the meanest tyrant of the worst degree, but even if he was an ordinary ruler Imam Hussain (A.S.) could not swear loyalty to him as the "Ulil Amr". So he did not. In the month of Rajab 61 Hijra, he left Medina and went to Mecca. From Mecca, before performing Hajj, he took his family with him, and with some friends and companions, true believers, he began the journey towards Iraq, with the expressed intention to cross the boundaries of the empire under the rule of Yazid, and settle down in some other country, Iran or India, because he wanted to make it clear to Yazid that he could not allege obedience to a "non-Ulil Amr" as he himself was an "Ulil Amr".

It was not to be. A large army of Yazid under the command of Umar Bin Saad surrounded the caravan of Imam Hussain (A.S.) when he reached Naynawah, Karbala, on the 2nd of Muharram in 61 Hijra.

There are several other aspects of human relationship and behavior in the events of Karbala that took place in the 10 days of Muharram, culminating in the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S.), and his 72 friends and relatives, which come into sharp focus as we recount every minute, during the religious gatherings, each year, but, above all, the ultimate reason remains the same, the impossibility of taking "oath of loyalty" (Baya't), by an "Ulil Amr", to obey a "non-Ulil Amr".

After Imam Hussain (A.S.), all-his successors to The office of the "Ulil Amr", our holy Imams, refused to obey "Non-Ulil Amr", and every ruler held each of them prisoner, used every trick, applied force and in the end killed every Imam, exactly as Yazid did.

Muharram is a month of mourning for the lovers and followers of "Aali Muhammad". In this month, on the 10th day In 61 Hijra, Imam Hussain bin Ali (A.S.), the grandson of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and the younger son of Ali and Fatima (S.A.), together with his family and friends, in all 72 men, were slain on the sands of the desert of Naynawah, Karbala. Since then, each year, the true followers of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), through grief, sorrow and tears, keep alive the message, cause and purpose of the greatest martyrdom in human history. No doubt it is a holy and sacred month.