Kollam society and culture perfectly reflects the lifestyle of the people residing in the city. The Portuguese settlement of 1502 was one of the major factors that influenced the Kollam society and culture.
As a result of the Portuguese settlement, a large part of the population of Kollam still belongs to the Christian community. Several features of Portuguese culture are reflected in the society of Kollam. Apart from Christianity, the Kollam society comprises of people belonging to other religions like Hinduism and Islam.
People of Kollam are strong religious believers. Numerous temples, mosques and churches are located throughout the city. Kollam is a popular pilgrimage center of Kerala and every year devotees from all parts of the state and from other Indian states visit the various holy shrines and temples of Kollam.
The people of Kollam actively take part in the numerous religious festivals. Some of the significant festivals of Kollam are Onam, Ashtami Rohini Festival, Kollam Pooram, Oachirakkali, Kollam Crafts Festival, Christmas and Easter. Through the celebration of these festivals people can experience the true culture of Kollam.
