TheyyamTravelGuide2014-2015

Theyyam Travel Guide
Welcome to the world of Theyyam
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Welcome to the world of Theyyam
• Theyyam – the ritualistic performance, which can be described
as the most visible, spectacular art form of Malabar (Northern
part of Kerala, India), associated with myths and legends.
Theyyam can also be described as a form of worship consisting
of rituals, colorful costumes and divine dance through which
the gods are appeased and honoured. Theyyam – the form of
worshipping gods, goddesses, legendary heroes etc is based on a
rather simple concept, that after suitable propitiatory rituals,
the god or goddess belonging to a temple becomes temporally
manifest in the body of an empowered man (the performer),
thereby elevating him to a divine status. Theyyam ceremonies
usually take place either within the precincts of a small shrine –
usually called Kavu, Kazhakam, Muchilottu, Mundiya, Sthanam
etc or in the yard of an ancestral house, or in an open space with
a temporary shrine called pathi.
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Beauty of Theyyam

Man to God
• After wearing the headdress the actual moment of
"becoming" the deity, the moment of crossing the line, as he
stares into a small hand-held mirror. It is at this point that,
almost imperceptibly, he slips into another state of being, his
eyes widening as they focus not on his own reflection, but on
the enigmatic features of a divine being. This is the moment
of fusion, the defining moment known as mukhadarshanam,
or the seeing of the face. It is the moment when a mortal
becomes a god.

Man to God

Origin of Theyyam
• According to Hinduism, all the creation-preservation-
destruction activities in the universe are controlled by the
three Gods – Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara (Shiva),
respectively. For upholding righteousness, these gods
appears in many godly guises and incarnations. For
propitiation of these gods, apart from ritualistic worship
and sacrifices, man also gave form to donning their godly
forms and performing as another form of worship. These
became a part of their culture, underwent many changes
over time, and is an evolution of the clan culture. It is very
difficult to find out the exact period of the origin of theyyam.
At the same time none can refute its antiquity.

Vayalatam

Divity of Theyyam
• Theyyam reveals the human capabilities of abstraction,
synthesis, and idealization; it describes social andeconomic
activities and reveals practices, beliefs and ideas. It provides
a unique insight into spirituality,intellectual life and cultural
adventures. It is a divine dance with ancient testimony of
customs, traditions and artistic creativity. Shrines, ancestral
houses, Kavus in villages offer the platform for theyyam
festivals. Since the theyyam performer, transforms to the
status of a particular deity, theyyam is very much a divine
dance. Invoking god or goddess in his body, he dances
through the compound of the sacred space where deities are
worshipped. The dance is considered not for propitiating
gods or goddesses, rather it is dance of the gods or
goddesses themselves.

Stages of Theyyam Performances
• The first stage of almost all theyyam performances is either
a tottam, in which a performer with simple costume and
minimal make up comes before the shrine and recites the
invocatory songs or tales of the deity, or comes before the
shrine wearing a more elaborate costume and make up as
vellattam, which performs an energetic dance as usually
associated with the story of that particular theyyam. After
the singing of tottam pattu and performing some rituals, the
performer retires to prepare for the actual theyyam
performance, a process beginning with the application of
intricate facial make-up whose every line is symbolic, and
ending with the donning of the elaborate costume.

Theyyam with tall headdress

Theyyam Costumes
• The costume as well as the facial make-up of each theyyam
varies according to the role and myth of the form, which
speaks volumes of the nature of the particular theyyam.
Using indigenous pigments and other materials the artistes
themselves prepare most of the costumes. The costumes of
Theyyam are made out of cutting and painting coconut
sheaths in black, white and red patterns, fresh
coconut fronds form skirts, fashioning breasts out of dry
coconut shells and tying a red cloth around the waist. The
facial decorations are intricately designed with enriched
symbolism. Theyyam is performed in the courtyard of a
house or village temple, as the artist gets ready and the
spirit of the deity is evoked during the nighttime. The
hood, headdress, face
painting, breastplate, bracelets, garlands and fabric of attire
of each theyyam are distinct and meticulously crafted.

Theyyam Costumes

Theyyam Performers
• Theyyam’ performers belong to one of the Hindu
communities (Malayan, Vannan, Velan (Thuzhuvelan),
Koppalan, Mavilan, Chingatthan, Panan, Parayan,
Pampatharavan, anhuttan, Munnuttan etc.). Each individual
caste has the right to perform certain deities and all
performers must poses a wide range of extraordinary skills.
They must know the ritual and character of every deity.
They have the inherited right to perform, know-how to sing,
dance with the drum, do the complicated make-up and dress
their costumes. Theyyam artistes are male. It is not a
profession or calling that can be adopted. The artist's shrine
rights are always inherited from the mother's family and
when he marries, he also acquires the shrine rights
of his wife's family. The artistes share a common training
and tradition in which the process of becoming the deity is
achieved after intense mental, physical and spiritual
preparation. All Theyyam artistes must be able to do much
more than just perform.

Temples (Kavu)
• The staging area of Theyyam is known as kaavu. Kazhakam,
Muchilottu, Mundiya, Sthhaanam, Kottam, are the other
names for the staging area. Theyyam is also performed
at home and fields by erecting temporary pathi as the
staging area. Angakulangara Kavu, Oravankara Kavu,
Kakkara Kavu, Kappattu Kavu, Chembilot Kavu,
Kannangattu Kavu, Karakkeel Kavu, Chembilot Kavu,
Cheralathu Kavu, Thiruvarkkattu Kavu, Andaloor Kavu, Palot
Kavu, Urpazhassi Kavu, Muchilot Kavu, Puthiya Bhagavay
Kavu, Cheerbam Kavu, Kurumba Kavu are the main Kavus
where theyyams are performed.

Man to God
Temple or Kavu – Performance area

Theyyam Season
• Theyyam season begins with end of October and ends in
May month next year. During these times, theyyam will be
performed in more than 1000 temples / kavus of Kannur
and Kasargod districts. Theyyam will be performed as a part
of yearly temple festival or as a separate prayer by a family
or individuals . There are more than 500 types of theyyams,
most of them are closely related each other.

Theyyam Calendar
• "Travel Kannur presents exclusive theyyam calendar Nov
2013 to May 2014. This calendar is based actual
information collected from different temples/kavu
authorities. Theyyams are performed in more than 1000
Temples/Kavus in one season. We have selected the best
theyyam festival details to include in this
calendar. http://www.travelkannur.com/theyyamcalendar.
html. Also visit best of theyyam festivals of the season
http://www.travelkannur.com/bestoftheyyamfestivals.html

Fire Theyyams
• “Theyyams are closely related to fire. There are theyyams
which jumps through fire or fall on bon fire . These theyyas
are performed mostly at late night or early morning . We
need to stay whole night at the theyyam location to
experience these theyyam.
www.travelkannur.com/bestoffiretheyyams.html

Travel Tips
• "Travel Kannur to experience theyyam" has started with the
intention of promoting "theyyam" - the powerful ritual
performances prevailing in Northern districts of Kerala.
People of these districts consider Theyyam itself as a God
and they seek blessing from this Theyyam. We provide an
opportunity to the people from other parts of world to come
and experience theyyam in its original form. We
encourage cultural tourism and takes utmost care to
maintain the purity of this great ancient performances
which is deeply connected to belief. Theyyam mostly
perfomed in the night / wee hours and includes day long
complicated rituals. To experience full ritual part of theyyam
peroformance, you need to camp in near to
Kavus/Tharavadu (temples) in the remote village areas. We
shoulder the responsibility of providing healthy travel
options to our guests.. Please visit
• http://www.travelkannur.com/traveltips.html for travel tips

Travel & Stay
• There are lots of hotels & home stays available in and
around Kannur & Kasargod districts .
• Travel Kannur Home Stays
• Home stay at Kavvayi Island, Payyanur , Kannur
• Viento Homes, Kali, Thalassery
• Samudra Luxury Home, , Near Muzhippilangadi Beach
• We also provide independent homes fin different parts of
Kannur & Kasargod (mostly close to theyyam loccations)
• We provide taxi services for our theyyam visitors
• Please visit
http://www.travelkannur.com/bestofaccommodations.html
for more information on Accommodation

Gallery
• Please visit our exclusive theyyam video gallery
• www.youtube.com/theyyamritual
• (collection of more than 200 theyyam videos)
• Thousands of Theyyam Photos please visit
• https://picasaweb.google.com/theyyamritual

Ted, Taiwan

Vishumurthy Theyyam

www.travelkannur.com
Contact: travelkannur@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/travelkannur
TRAVEL KANNUR TO EXPERIENCE THEYYAM
0091 9846469007 / 984790077

TheyyamTravelGuide2014-2015

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TheyyamTravelGuide2014-2015