Cochin Carnival 2025: Dates, events in store, main venues, safety

While Christmas is celebrated around the world in December, Kerala's Kochi also turns into a carnival ground during this season. The legendary Cochin Carnival is a colourful festival that begins days before Christmas and continues till the New Year. If you want to experience Christmas in a way that stays with you for a lifetime, there’s no better place than Fort Kochi. Here's everything you need to know about the event. 

What is the Cochin Carnival
The Cochin Carnival has long been the vibrant heart of Kochi’s Christmas and New Year festivities. It is a full-throated celebration when Fort Kochi comes alive with colours, crowds and rhythms, turning every corner into a stage. Expect an array of events, from grand parades, street performances, cultural shows, Christmas carols, drum beats, music, dance and the Christmas Papas, among many other things. The festivities culminate on New Year’s Eve with the burning of a giant Papanji effigy.

This ritual of effigy burning is believed to be a continuation of traditions once brought to Kochi by the Portuguese. The term `Papanji' in Portuguese means' grandfather'. Some others, at the same time,  also trace parallels to the ancient traditions of the Jewish community. With a history of nearly 2,000 years in Kerala, the Jews observe their victory over the Greek army by burning an effigy of the Greek commander Bagris. This ritual, they say, may have influenced the Papanji tradition in Kochi.

Whatever its origin, the burning of Papanji has become one of the most iconic and eagerly awaited moments of the Cochin Carnival. 

Important Dates
The carnival begins on December 14 at 8.30 am in Fort Kochi's St Francis Church, with the Ceremony of Peace and Solidarity. It concludes on January 1, 2026, early morning, following the ritualistic 'Burning of the Pappanji' at Vasco da Gama Square, Fort Kochi Beach, or the Parade Ground. At times, multiple Pappanjis are also burnt at different spots, like last year, to manage crowds. 

Main venues
The Vasco Da Gama Square, Pallath Raman Ground and Parade Ground in Fort Kochi are the other main venues of the event.  

Events in store 
Many interesting events like the Motor Bike Show Race, Chetak Scooter Rally, and the Mega Show by Fort Kochi's Old Pegion Flying Association on December 21. Programmes and competitions are also scheduled for the following days and they are currently getting finalised. On Christmas Day, there is a Rangoli Competition at 11 am at Pandith Temple Road, Mattancherry. The much-awaited 'Burning of the Pappanji' will be held on December 31, at midnight and will continue till January 1, 2026, early morning. There will also be other headline events, such as tableaux, floats, fancy dress, beach sports, and cultural performances. For details on all events, visit the carnival's website. 

Safety and traffic restrictions
Generally, authorities enforce route closure and barricades on December 31. Expect last-minute changes for crowd control and safety. Tourists should check with Carnival officials for updates and advisories, if any. They can reach out to +91 8075220364 and info@cochincarnival.org in case of questions or concerns.