Festivals and Tourism: Examining the Relationship on Local Communities with Special Reference to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

This article is an attempt to bring out the significance of festivals and to explore tourism and local people to the fullest. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India, is known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant festival scene. Several festivals in Thiruvananthapuram have had a significant impact on the development of locals and tourism in the regio. Kerala has been considered as one of the exciting tourist destinations in the world. The art, crafts, architecture, music, dance, fairs and festivals, cuisine and people all are instances of the cultural rainbow of Kerala. The land of Anantha, Thiruvananthapuram, promises to be an experience of a lifetime with its wealth of culture and traditions, it is also haven for nature lovers. The city capital is an amalgam of various forms of tourism, wherein the influences the creativity and the celebrations of a region. Festival is a slice of India’s history, each festival is unique in style an is characterised by colour, gaiety, enthusiasm, feasts and heterogeneity of prayers and rituals. A very interesting aspect brought to light through this study is that prospects of festivals however, lie in the fact that they are the carrier of cultural wealth and moral values and boosters of local economy. Keynotes: festival, festival tourism, heritage, moral value, carrier, cultural wealth.