Theyyam

Theyyam

Puliyoor Kali Theyyam at Mathamangalam
Native name	തെയ്യം
Genre	Ritual art form
Origin	Kolathunadu(North Malabar), Kerala, India

Theyyam (/t̪eːjjəm/; romanised: teyyam) is a Hindu religious ritual practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and customs associated with temples and sacred groves of Malabar.^[1] The people of the region consider Theyyam itself as a channel to a god and they thus seek blessings from Theyyam.

In Kerala, Theyyam is performed predominantly in the North Malabar region (consisting of present-day Kasargod, Kannur, Mahe Districts, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad and Vadakara and Koyilandy Taluks of Kozhikode). A similar custom known as Bhuta Kola is followed in the Tulunadu region of neighbouring Karnataka.

Theyyam season starts from the tenth day of the Malayalam month of Thulam (usually falls during October, and known as paththaam-udayam) and lasts up to seven months till the middle of Edavam month (typically late May and June). The last Kaliyaattam for the season is performed at Madayi Kavu and Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, both being the family shrines of Kolathiri royal family.