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Trikaripur Pekkadam Sri Kuruvappalli Ara Devaswam
Date range: 30 October – 6 November 2026
Trikaripur, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
View detailsSacred groves, kavus and temple courtyards across Kannur and Kasaragod, North Malabar, Kannur, Kerala, India
Theyyam Season
A powerful North Malabar ritual season where performers embody deities through fire, colour, music, costume and trance-like devotional performance.
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Photo by Salih KMTheyyam Season
Season window
2027 edition
2027 edition: 1 November 2026 – 30 May 2027
Usually during the Theyyam season in North Kerala, broadly from around November to April, with many performances linked to local temple and kavu calendars. Exact dates, locations and timings must be verified locally before travel.
This range is an approximate season window for planning — not a confirmed single-day event. Venue-level dates appear in the festival calendar below when published.
Date status
Dates estimated
Season timing may shift locally. Confirm venue dates before travel.
Festival overview
A living ritual calendar for documentary photographers
Theyyam is one of North Kerala’s most intense ritual art traditions, especially associated with the Malabar region, including Kannur and Kasaragod. It is performed in kavus, temples, ancestral shrines and village spaces as an annual ritual offering to local deities and spirits. For photographers, Theyyam offers extraordinary visual storytelling: elaborate face painting, towering headgear, fire rituals, drums, night performances, devotional crowds, sacred groves and intimate preparation moments. The strongest images come from patience, respect and local guidance, because Theyyam is not a staged cultural show but a living devotional ritual where the performer is treated as a divine presence.
Festival calendar
Theyyam Season events
Published venue dates for this festival only (2026-11-06 to 2027-11-06), grouped by month. Within each month, pinned dates appear first, then chronological ranges. Confirm locally before travel — estimated dates are marked clearly.
October 2026
November 2026
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Payyannur Sri Vannadil Meenakottil Tharavad
Date range: 7–8 November 2026
Payyannur, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Pilicode Sri Rayaramangalam Vadakkenvathil Veethakunn Sri Vishnumoorthi Kshethram
Date range: 7–8 November 2026
Pilicode, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Kuttamathu Ponmaalam Shree Vishnumoorthi Kshethram
Date range: 7–9 November 2026
Kuttamath, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Pilicode Theru Sri Someswari Kshethram
Date range: 9–10 November 2026
Pilicode, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Kayyur Sree Alayil Bhagavathy Temple
Date range: 11–12 November 2026
Kayyur, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Cheruvathur Mayyecha Kolivalappil Tharavad Sri Vayanattukulavan Devasthanam
Date range: 12–13 November 2026
Cheruvathur, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Nileshwram Kinavoor Sri Thachadam Cherootta Tharavad
Date range: 12–13 November 2026
Nileswaram, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Mavilakkadappuram Oriyarakkavu Vishnumurthy Temple
Date range: 12–15 November 2026
Mavilakkadappuram, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Trikaripur Elambachi Kunjalinkizhil Sri Vishnumoorthi Kshethram
Date range: 13–14 November 2026
Trikaripur, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Koppalam-Thaliyarammantevida Sri Muthappan Madappura
Date range: 14–15 November 2026
Koppalam, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Chemmaravayal Sree Purakattu Vettakkorumakan Temple
Date range: 20–22 November 2026
Morazha, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Thekkedath Puthiyarakkal Padarkulangara Bhagavathy Temple
Date range: 22–23 November 2026
Nileshwaram, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Kanhangad Chamundikunnu Sri Vishnu Chamundeswari Kshethram
Date range: 27 November – 1 December 2026
Kanhangad, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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December 2026
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Karatt Sree Neeliyar Bhagavathy Kshethram
Date range: 1–3 December 2026
Ezhilode, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Payyannur Kokkanisheri Sri Kannangat Bhagavathi Kshethram
Date range: 7–10 December 2026
Payyannur, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Elayavoor Sri Muchilott Bhagavathi Kshethram
Date range: 11–14 December 2026
Elayavoor, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Sree Chandranellur Bhagavathy Mahavishnu Temple
Date range: 16–20 December 2026
Chandravayal, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Kammadam Sri Bhagavathi Kshethram
Date range: 24–29 December 2026
Kammadam, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Aanacheri Kottam Sree Perumpuzha Achan Deivam Temple
Date range: 26–27 December 2026
Chittaari Kowwal, Kandothu, Payyanur, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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January 2027
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Edanad Sree Thiruvarkad Bhagavathy Temple
Date range: 10–13 January 2027
Edat, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Pothavoor Sree Meledath Poomala Bhagavathy Kavu Mundya
Date range: 12–17 January 2027
Cheemeni, Kasaragod, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Payyannur Mavicheri Sri Bhagavathi Kshethram
Date range: 24–27 January 2027
Payyannur, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Pariyarath Puthiyapurayil Cherambeth Tharavad Kathivannur Veeran Devasthanam
Date range: 31 January – 2 February 2027
Thaliparamb, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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February 2027
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Payyannur Kavvayi Sree Puthiya Bhagavathy Kavu
Date range: 6–9 February 2027
Payyannur, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Sree Kurinji Temple Thayineri
Date range: 10–12 February 2027
Thayineri, Kannur, Kerala
Estimated date · Please confirm locally before visiting.
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Planning notes
Practical details for photographers
Photography notes
Best suited for documentary, ritual, portrait, low-light and cultural photography. Look for face painting, preparation spaces, fire circles, drum rhythm, devotional gestures, shadows, smoke, costume textures, sacred grove atmosphere and the relationship between performer and devotees. Use fast lenses and avoid harsh flash during rituals. A 35mm or 24–70mm lens is useful for close documentary work, while a 70–200mm helps maintain respectful distance during ritual moments.
Access / permission notes
Kannur is a practical base for Theyyam photography, with performances spread across villages, kavus and temple courtyards. Kasaragod also has important Theyyam locations. Schedules vary by shrine and Malayalam calendar traditions, so local contacts, DTPC updates or a knowledgeable guide are important. Many performances happen late at night or early morning, so transport and accommodation should be planned in advance.
Safety notes
Respect ritual boundaries, local instructions and shrine rules. Do not enter restricted spaces, block devotees or photograph private devotional moments without permission. Fire rituals, dense night crowds, smoke, dust and uneven ground can be challenging. Keep gear light, protect equipment from heat and ash, and avoid intrusive flash.
Photography guide
Photograph the festival with context and respect
Field guidance
Theyyam is one of North Kerala’s most intense ritual art traditions, especially associated with the Malabar region, including Kannur and Kasaragod. It is performed in kavus, temples, ancestral shrines and village spaces as an annual ritual offering to local deities and spirits. For photographers, Theyyam offers extraordinary visual storytelling: elaborate face painting, towering headgear, fire rituals, drums, night performances, devotional crowds, sacred groves and intimate preparation moments. The strongest images come from patience, respect and local guidance, because Theyyam is not a staged cultural show but a living devotional ritual where the performer is treated as a divine presence.
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