Theiyams and Kavus have an inextricable connection with the life and culture of North Kerala. North Kerala has a large number of kavus and tharavads who weave different kinds of theyyas. But in general there are certain practices and rituals followed for centuries to start, continue and conclude theyam. Kodiyila vangal Kodiyila vangal (offering in…
The places where Theyam is performed are generally known as kavu. Although Naga kavu can be found anywhere in Kerala, Theyya kavus are found only in North Kerala. kavus are important places of people’s life and culture in North Kerala. Theyams and other rituals that take place in kavus are closely related to the life…
Although a very ancient ritual art, not many authentic books have been written about theyas. Word-of-mouth knowledge exists even among people who are extremely fond of Theiyas. However, many of the books that exist today are the result of intense research and hard work by their respective authors. These books are a great resource for…
In the past, during the time of the local kings, their territories were divided by demarcation for administrative convenience, and such places are called swarupams. Theyam mainly existed in such fourteen swarupas. Each swarupa had a clan god of that swarupa, like the ancestral clan god. Kola swarup, Nidiyiruppu swarup, Thekkan Kutti swarup, Vadakkan Kutti…
Pathamudayam(Sunrise on the 10th day of Malayalam month Thulam ) is a very important day as far as northern Kerala is concerned. In the agricultural culture of North Kerala, in pathamudayam the second crop is brought down after the first harvest .This day is also known as Thulapath Theyatam begins on the 10th day of…
Elathu is a ritual that is performed in Kavus (Temples where theyyam performed). Elathu is a ritual where the Velichappadan (Kind of priest) visit all the houses of the village before the festivities like Kaliyattam. Elath is the short form of the word Ezhunnallath. The main purpose of Elathu is to announce the arrival of…
Vellatam is another form of Totam ceremony which is very important in Theyyam. Like Thotam, Vellatam comes down before the main Theyam comes down. Thotam is a song about the upcoming Theyyam and related stories. But Vellatam is a very simple form of a theyyam that perform before that main Theyyam to be performed. That’s…
Thotam is a very important ceremony that cannot be left out in Theyyam. It is also called Ilam kolam. Thotam means song of praise. The lyrics of the Thotam song are done in olden days. In addition to the praise, each Theiyat’s totam will mainly include the mythology of that Theyyam, heroic deeds, characteristics, swarupas,…
Tulunad is a region of land situated on the western side of the Western Ghats, on the south side of the Kalyanapuram river flowing through the northern part of Udupi district in present-day Karnataka state and on the north side of Chandragiri river in Kasaragod district in present-day Kerala state. Tulu language is the mother…