We had a 10 day tour of Kerala recently organised by Theyyam Holidays. We visited Kochi, Munnar and Kumarakom. Our driver was Rajesh who was absolutely fantastic. He stopped to show us places en-route and spent time to take us on nice walks. A really top guy so please request his services if you are going to Kerala. A thoroughly enjoyable trip in an amazing part of the world. Nick and Nikki, England, April 2023

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.

Disclaimer- This is a review for the Theyyam tour If you're on some sort of a cleanse, this tour is definitely for you. Because an "all-inclusive" doesn't include a drink with every meal. Let alone a cold soda in this almost scorching heat, a bottle of water is often left out of this holy inclusivity. Well, the least I could hope on a "photography tour" would be for my camera fees to be paid. But apparently that isn't something that would likely be a part of this "all- inclusive photography tour". I'd have saved a tonne of heartache and disappointment if I had just ventured out alone. But stupid me who didn't want to go online and make these arrangements individually and thought a photography tour would be a great way to meet like minded people. Unfortunately, that couldn't be further from the truth. As nearly a decade old photographer, it got painful really quickly to adapt to the continuous release of shutters all around me resulting in identical captures on all cameras around me. What even is the point of having paid 25,000 if I don't have the freedom to explore my creative abilities on a "photography tour". That apart, without sleep and a decent meal after continuous exertion of 3 days AND NIGHTS (which by the way doesn't se to take any mentiton on their "all-inclusive" website) safe to say this was one of the worse experiences I've had in life so far. Mentorship is great for beginners, which I could've appreciated had I not been told that not jumping amongst my fellow tour-mates to take that one stereotypical shot would reflect badly on them. What even is the point of taking a photo that I can easily download from the internet. Possibly the hunger and sleep deprivation has started getting to me. As a digital nomad, it would've been great to have an advance notice regarding theie "sleep is for the weak" policy. And also the "I've been coming here every year for 10 years but I can't direct you towards a decent bathroom" because photographers aren't human? Exceedingly grateful to all the GODS of theyyam that I wasn't born with a weak bladder and GOD forbid someone has any special needs while going through (most literally) whatever this "photography tour" is. Excuse me for being human. I mean I do this for fun, to relax and unwind and most importantly, to live my life. Sadly these 3 dreadful days have been the exact opposite of everything I had dreamed that is Godly experience of the majestic THEYYAM would be for me. But, if you have that kinda money laying around, a better use of it still would be to throw it in fire than attending a tour such as this one.

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.

Breathtaking performance by the artists. A nice evening spent . We were literally feeling goosebumps by the performances. A must do activity.

I had read about Theyyam and with the help of an agency, Travel Kannur, I was able to experience small village life and the spectacular Theyyam Ceremonies of northern Kerala. They arranged to pick me up from Mysuru and then taken by car to a homestay in the countryside north of Kannur. I went to probably 4 different ceremonies in remote village temples to witness up close and to be surrounded by the ritual performance with not another 'western' visitor in sight. A fascinating experience that is well off the tourist track, and north Kerala has its own backwaters, unspoilt beaches and life that is well worth the effort to get there.

Dance or invocation is generally performed in front of the village shrine. There are 400 types of theyyam. Normally from October to April is the season of theyyam.

Dalit (low caste) performers are trained for years to provide these shows where they, through lack of food and water, enter a trace-like state and a god/godess inhabits their body and they are able to bless the assembled Hindu believers. It is an interesting spectacle for tourists, but is a serious religious ceremony for believers.

Theyyam incorporates dance, mime and music and enshrines the rudiments of ancient dravidian tribal cultures which attached great importance to the worship of heroes and the spirits of ancestors. With its root steeped in the age- old Dravidian culture of South India, Theyyam Festival of Kerala runs from December to April making it the best time to visit India for cultural tourists and art photographers. The musical dance performance is ritualistically held at some 1200 temples from north Malabar to south Malabar.

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.

Theyyam is a folklore art popular in northern Kerala (Malabar area).KANNUR is famous for Theyyam.Theyyam basically a folk art.

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).

Theyyam is the ritualistic enactment of the various mythological characters and is a integral part of thousand year old customs of the people of North Kerala. The teyyam is performed in a dance form in front of the local shrine and Kavus. Local hindu family is often associated with one of the theyyam and is also the time when the family gets together. Even people from other religion follow and admire this folk ritual. The month of may on the week of Vishu, the new year as per the Malayalam calendar is a great time to witness the theyyam . However different temples and Deva khetrams follow their own ritual schedules.

You will be surprised by the rituals of Theyyam. Selected humans dress up and perform rituals of spirits and mythical characters from Hindu mythology. The make up is very intricate and beautiful. The attire, make up and dance of Theyyam is a beholding sight. Everything on your mind will vanish at the sight of Theyyam. The locals take this festival very seriously and it's pray to Theyyam.

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.