The dances of Kottayam consists of Margamkali and Arjuna Nritham.

      Margamkali is an art form popular among the Syrian Christian community of the erstwhile Travancore. This consists of group dance and martial arts like Parichamuttukali. The theme of the songs revolves round the life of St. Thomas. Margamkali is performed by men and women separately.

       Arjuna Nritham also known as Mayilpeeli Thookkam  performed by men is popular  in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. This is performed by one or two persons at night and the lighting is done by the traditional lamp Nilavilakku. Arjuna was proficient in dance among the Pandavas and he is supposed to have danced and sung praising Bhadrakali. Since the lower part of the of the dance costume is made of peacock feather.

      Kottayam has its place of honour in the cultural map of Kerala. Kunchan Nambiar, the Father of Thullal, a popular temple art form  was supposed to have lived at Kidangoor. Unnuneeli Sandesam, the exquisite Malayalam poetical work, is supposed to have been written by one of the Vadakkumkur Rajas. Ramapurathu Warrier (1703-53) is one of the celebrated names in Malayalam literature. The Christian Missionaries enriched Malayalam literature by their valuable contributions in the 18th and 19th centuries. Varthamana Pusthakam (1778) written by Parammekkal Thoma Kathanar, on a travel to Rome, is the first travelogue in Malayalam. The first autobiography in Malayalam by Vaikom Pachu Moothathu was published from Kottayam in 1870.

      In the closing decades of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Kottayam shot into lime light as the nerve centre of all literary and cultural activities in the erstwhile Travancore.  Late Kottarathil Sankunny, Kandathil Varghese Mappilai, Kerala Varma Valiyakoi Thampuran, K.C. Mammen Mappilai, Kattakkayathil  Cheriyan Mappilai, Vadakkumkoor Raja Raja Varma, Karoor Neelakanta Pillai, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, D.C. Kizhakkemuri and Abhaya Dev are dignitaries worth mention. Ponkunnam Varkey,Mahakavi Pala Narayanan Nair, Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair, Booker Prize winner Arundhathi Roy, film actor Mammootty, writer Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair, music director L.P.R. Varma and film director Jayaraj are some other notable personalities from the district.

       Kottayam stands first in the field of education, mass communication, printing and book publication. The part played by Deepika, Malayala Manorama and Bhashaposhini for the cultural and literary development is of immense significance. There are many printing presses and book publishing companies in Kottayam. D.C. books started publication from here in 1974. Kottayam is the headquarters of Current Books from 1977. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the State's book publication take place in Kottayam.

       The services rendered by Kottarathil Sankunny Memorial School of Arts, Travancore Devaswom Board's Kshethra Kalapeedhom at Vaikom and Kudamaloor Kalakshethram in the cultural field are notable. The 10 day Annual International Book Fair organised by Darsana Cultural Centre in January- February attracts many people. About 150 publishers from India and abroad take part in the fair.

       The library movement has taken deep roots in the district. There are 419 registered libraries. Of this, 91 are, A grade  libraries. A library has started functioning in Thiruvanchoor Juvenile Home. A book distribution scheme for rural women was undertaken in 10 libraries. In five libraries, Career Guidence centre was opened. A Rural Information Centre has set up in Panamattom Deseeya Vayana sala with the Co-operation of I.T.Department and Grama Panchayat. Balavedi was constituted in 42 libraries and book published by the Bala Sahithya Institute being distributed here. Reading competition for children being conducted in district and taluk levels. An Academic Study Centre has been opened in Vazhoor Novelty club library. This is a Reference Centre for students studying in the professional courses at university level.

      The district has 273 arts clubs, 236 sports clubs, 62 cinema theatres and 38 community halls.

Public Library

      The Kottayam Public Library is one of the oldest in Kerala. It is the first library set up by the public in Travancore. Started in 1882 with the initiative of Sri.T.Rama Rao, the then Peshkar of Kottayam, the library attracts book lovers in and out of the district. There are about 3000 members and a collection of 1.25 lakh books. The Children's Library and the Balabhavan attached to it were started in 1972. About 20000 books have been collected here for children. 450 Children below the age of 15 have given membership in the library. Coaching classes in music, dance , painting and craft are conducted at the Balabhavan.

      Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sanghom

      The Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sanghom (SPCS) or the Writers Co-operative Society founded in 1945, with its headquarters at Kottayam, is a unique co-operative of men of letters.


       The main objective of the society is to ensure economic and cultural stability to the writers. Authors get the highest royalty from this society. Publication and sale of books are the main activities of the Society. For this, the society has printing wing and sales wing. The printing wing consists of India Press at Nattakom and M.P. Paul Memorial offset press  at Kottayam. The former press started in 1953, while the later in June, 1998. The sales wing of the society is National Book Stall (N.B.S) and it has branches in nine districts. Prof.M.P. Paul and Karoor Neelakanta Pillai are the first President and the first secretary of the  S.P.C.S respectively. The society at present has 1074 members and a capital of 150 lakhs. The first book published by the S.P.C.S. is Thakazhiyude Kadhakal (stories of Thkazhi) by Thakazhi Siva Sankara Pillai. The largest number of editions of a book-50 editions-brought out by the society is Ramanan by Changampuzha Krishna Pillai. 1.63 lakh copies of Ramanan have been sold through these editions.

 Calendar of religious festivals

1. Thirunakkara Temple Festival - Thulam, Mithunam & Meenam

2. Manarcad Church Ettunoimbu - First to 8th September

3. Chandanakkudam at Changanassery - 25th December

4. Bharananganam Church Festival - 28th July

5. Ashtami at Vaikom Temple - Kumbham / Vrichikom

6. Ettumanoor Temple Festival - Kumbham

7. Petta Thullal at   Erumeli - Dhanu

8. Navarathri Celebrations and Vidyarambham of Panchikkad Temple -Thulam

9. Kumaranalloor and Udayanapuram Thrikarthika - Vrichikom

10. Thiruvarppu Temple Festival - Medom

11. Aruvithura St. George Church Perunal - 22nd, 23rd, 24th April.

12. Parayil Church Perunal Changanassery - 8th  December.

13. Pakkil Samkramthi Vanibham - Karkadakam