Theyyam

Theyyam

About
Theyyam is a form of worship where man dons the guise of God and propitiates the Gods through possessed dancing; Theyyam is also known by the name Kaliyaattom. The performance of Theyyam is supposed to make life prosperous and remove all hazards. Theyyam is perhaps the most significant ritualistic art form of Kerala - God's Own Country.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Theyyam and nearby attractions

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles69 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
17
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
2

Carol-Anne B
Dundee, UK169 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Couples
My favourite thing about travel is learning about new cultures. In Kerala I was lucky enough to go to several Theyyam festivals which were organised by Santhosh at Travel Kannur. At the fire Theyyam the atmosphere was literally electric! Imagine it..... its 3am, there is a big fire, chanting and beating drums. I could have been in a story book. The Theyyam starts running through the fire and one of the guys at the side of him seemed to go into a trance (I still can't believe neither got bad burns to their feet). Santhosh definitely seems to also be a local expert on Theyyam. He was easy to communicate with prior to coming and responded really quickly via whatsapp. What is also lovely is that he also still sends me pictures of other Theyyams. Also stayed in the home of Santhosh, his wife and children who were all very friendly and provided lovely, large home cooked meals. This made is easy for going up and out to the festivals. Santhosh also arranged for us to see Kambala (buffalo racing) which was another exciting experience. I feel absolutely priviledged to have been able to participate in both events and would highly reccomend Santhosh at Travel Kannur to anyone who is looking to do the same.
Written 1 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kinitaac
San Francisco, CA15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
I rarely book through a travel agent but TravelKannur was able to organize our five day trip for four people amazingly! Santosh and Asha worked with my requests and were very adaptive. The price they quoted was fantastic and included lodging and most meals, in addition to the Theyyam performances (a Northern Keralan Hindu religious ceremony that happens in the winter). All four of us were completely blown away by the Theyyam. Some was in a local temple and others were held in the private temples of people's homes. Every ritual was astounding and felt like the real deal--not just a performance put on for spectators. TravelKannur are definitely the top experts on experiencing this. They were also able to book us an amazing overnight houseboat, as well as hotels/homestays that were right on the beach. It often felt like we had a private beach just 20 feet away. If you are at all interested in experiencing Theyyam or the unspoiled Kannur/Kasaragod/Bekal area, this is definitely the best and most economical way to do it.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jose T
Bengaluru, India698 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Friends
It was one of those long cherished dream fulfillment for me, when the plan was made final. Yes, watching one of these art performance with my naked eyes was something I have been waiting for quite long.
About the history of Theyyam (Teyyam, Theyyattam ) (Malayalam:തെയ്യം) is a popular ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala, India, predominant in the Kolathunadu area (consisting of present-day Kasargod, Kannur Districts, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad and Vatakara andKoyilandy Taluks of Kozhikode of Kerala) and also in Kodagu and Tulu nadu of Karnataka as a living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs. The performers of Theyyam belong to the lower caste community, and have an important position in Theyyam. People of these districts consider Theyyam itself as a God and they seek blessings from this Theyyam. A similar custom is followed in the Tulu Nadu region of neighbouring Karnataka known as Bhuta Kola.
Out of devotion, ruling clans established their own shrines and Kavus for Theyyam deities where non-sattvic rituals and customs are observed. The Goddesses like Rakteshwari, Chamundi, Someshwari, Kurathi, and the Gods like Vishnumoorthi are propitiated in these household shrines
The many temples of Kerala, India have stories and legends of Gods attached to them. One such famous tale is that of Hiranyakashipu, the king of the Asuras. It is said that Hiranyakashipu was enraged with Lord Vishnu for having killed his younger brother, Hiranyaksha. He prayed to Lord Brahma and acquired special powers. The powers made him strong and closer to being immortal. Prahlad, his nephew, however, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. He was plunged into the fire a number of times by Hiranyakashipu and was finally rescued by Narsimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, by killing the demon, Hiranyakashipu.

Theechamundi Theyyam is a ritual dance performance, an offering to Lord Vishnu’s incarnation- Narasimhavathara and the number of times the Theyyam enters into the fire corresponds to the number of times Prahlad is thrown into the fire.

In the climax of the dance performance, the dancer wearing tender coconut leaves plunges into the bonfire and comes out safe, a sign of his arduous spiritual observances having made him resistant to burns.

Scientifically, Theyyam supports the eradication of viral diseases, thus saving the village from epidemics. You should watch out for the next dates of these rituals and attend. Most of these happens in the night or early morning.
Written 7 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

itinerarirasta
Kolkata District, India138 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2017 • Friends
This was a deeply spiritual and moving experience so please come to it in silence and faith, even if you don't know, as we didn't, what it was really going to be like! And for that it is ESSENTIAL that you go to a genuine theyyam & not the kitsch events in schools and city halls that some hotels send you off on - usually at thrice the cost. A real theyyam is always held in a local temple, usually small & visited only by the village people, and does NOT ask you to pay (though you may feel like contributing to the donation box). The best way to find the genuine theyyam is go through Mr Kurien of the Costa Malabari; in fact stay there as regular groups go to theyyam, so it works out cheaper (transport) and they make an effort to go really close by. He is also the gentleman that facilitated the story in Dalrymple's Nine Lives (a must-read for knowing about theyyam).
Written 3 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sameer C
Kannur, India13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2018 • Family
Vayanattukulavan is a special traditional art performed in this Tharavad (accient home) . There are lots of foreign visiters will visit this yearly on this event.
Written 5 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PA306
London, UK40 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2015 • Couples
We were fortunate enough to witness a Theyam ritual involving the dancer kicking hot coals with his bare feet. The locals were so friendly and offered us food every 10 minutes!
Written 22 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

george22
Leeds, England17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2016 • Couples
This is one of the most incredible spectacles you are likely to witness. The Kannur Beach House arranged the trip for us. It involved a 45 minute auto-rickshaw ride in the early hours of the morning. This is not laid on for tourists, it is totally authentic. If visiting northern Kerala make sure you include this in your itinerary.
Written 4 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ideepakc
Kochi309 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2015 • Friends
You must watch this!
Theyyam performance at the Pazhassini kadavu temple is enchanting to say the least. There is one in the evening at 6pm daily. I'm not so sure about the morning timing. Cameras are not allowed inside the temple but you can take long shots from outside the temple. #Experience to believe it
Written 14 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vssd61
Kannur, India134 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Friends
kannur, the city of looms and lores , can boast of its own folk artform- THEYYAM-.The theyyam time lasts for about 2-4 months in and around kannur in various "kavus" from almost mid oct . there are many forms of theyyams and with each of these demigods, strange but interesting stories and anecdotes are attached.
theyyams are very colourful and majestic to watch. their graceful movements are real treats to the eyes and the accompanying drum beats and songs add fervour to this wonderful artform.
Written 23 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DCFabian
Washington, DC101 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2015 • Solo
Seeing a good theyyam was one of the highlights of my trip to southern India. They are often late at night, but it's worth it. Not all theyyams are the same. The second one I went to had many fewer people and was not as spectacular as the first. So it's worth asking to find out which are the best ones to go to as there are often more than one a night during the season.
Written 22 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 68
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

THEYYAM (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

All Kannur HotelsKannur Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in KannurHotels near Theyyam
All things to do in Kannur
Amusement Parks in KannurZoos & Aquariums in KannurBoat Tours & Water Sports in KannurDay Trips in Kannur
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday homesTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire