Folk festivals continue to function as vital cultural institutions that sustain collective memory, social cohesion, and symbolic authority in contemporary societies. In the Malabar region of Kerala, Nērcca represents one of the most enduring shrine-centred folk traditions, integrating devotion, ritual performance, economy, and social interaction. This paper examines the contemporary relevance of Nērcca through an in-depth ethnographic analysis of Kondotty Nērcca. Drawing upon fieldwork, oral narratives, and ritual practices documented in the author’s doctoral research, the study argues that Nērcca must be understood not merely as a religious observance but as a dynamic social institution. By reinterpreting its multiple functions in the present social order, the paper demonstrates how folk festivals continue to negotiate identity, authority, cultural continuity, and social integration amid rapid socio-economic transformations.