Aluva Sivarathri festival

{{short description|Annual festival celebrated in Aluva Siva temple}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}

{{Infobox holiday

| holiday_name = Aluva Sivarathri Manappuram Festival

| image = A night during the Aluva Sivaratri Festival.jpg

| imagesize = 320px

| caption = A night view of Aluva Sivaratri Festival

| type = Hindu

| nickname =

| observedby = Hindus of Kerala

| longtype = Religious, cultural

| date = per Hindu calendar

| date2022 =

| date2023 = 18 February

| celebrations =

| frequency = Annual

}}

Aluva Sivarathri Festival is the Sivarathri celebrated in Aluva Mahadeva Temple in Aluva, Kochi in the state of Kerala, India{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/aluva-manappuram-all-set-for-sivarathri-rituals/article22735603.ece|title = Aluva Manappuram all set for Sivarathri rituals|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 13 February 2018}} The celebration of Sivarathri in Aluva is very famous in Kerala. The month of Kumbham is noted for the Sivarathri festival which falls in February – March.

Aluva Sivarathri is celebrated at the Siva temple on the banks of Periyar River and this place is called the Aluva Manal Puram (land with sand).{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/240217/aluva-set-for-sivaratri-festival-today.html|title = Aluva set for Sivaratri festival today|date = 24 February 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.india.com/travel/articles/mahashivratri-celebrations-in-kerala-how-shivratri-is-celebrated-in-aluva/|title=Mahashivratri celebrations in Kerala: How shivratri is celebrated in Aluva|date=7 March 2016}} Pilgrims offer Bali (sacrifice) to their ancestors in the morning succeeding the holy night.{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/tv/ReadMore1/42502/aluva-sivarathri-manappuram/E |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025230/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/tv/ReadMore1/42502/aluva-sivarathri-manappuram/E |archive-date=16 February 2018 |title=Mathrubhumi: ReadMore1 -'Aluva Manappuram all set for Sivarathri festival'}} Near the bank of periyar, Aluva Manal Puram (also called Manappuram), there will be many stalls installed for people for purchasing, shopping, exhibitions, and adventure rides for children and adults. People from all religions becomes the part of the festival. It will remain for two weeks after the offerings of Bali. The festival is celebrated as a remembrance for the lord Shiva.{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TVckDAAAQBAJ&q=Aluva+Sivarathri+festival&pg=PT15 |title = Nine Days: A Rescue Mission|last1 = John Kunthara|first1 = B.|date = 11 May 2016}}