Skip to content

Menu

Guided trips Theyyams Journal FAQ Enquire

The Theyyam Journal

Guides to the gods, attire and etiquette of north Kerala’s living ritual, written by people who live alongside it.

All Culture Etiquette Planning Theyyam types

Close portrait of a Theyyam with a yellow painted face, silver crown and flower garlands

Featured · Culture · 9 min read

What is Theyyam? A first-timer’s guide to Kerala’s living ritual

The gods, the families and the ritual, explained before you arrive.

Read the guide →

Latest articles

A Theyyam with a red and white painted face holding a sword

Culture · 7 min

Kantara and Theyyam: what the film shows and what it does not

A Theyyam with a dotted white face mask and flower garlands

Culture · 6 min

Is Theyyam a dance? No, it is a ritual

A koladhari’s yellow face being made up and the crown fitted before the ritual

Culture · 8 min

The steps of a Theyyam: thottam, vellattam, purappadu and more explained

A village shrine at night with a flagstaff of palm leaves and marigold garlands

Etiquette · 6 min

Theyyam etiquette: do’s and don’ts for visitors

Planning · 7 min

Theyyam season: the best months to visit North Malabar

A shrine ground at night with a palm-leaf flagstaff, lights and devotees at the edge

Planning · 6 min

Why Theyyam is hard to plan on your own

A Theyyam in a tall red headdress with a red and white painted face

Theyyam types · 8 min

Muthappan, Pottan and Vishnumoorthi: the main Theyyams

A craftsman weaving yellow palm fibre for Theyyam attire

Culture · 5 min

Attire and craft: how a Theyyam’s attire is made

Close view of a Theyyam with a green palm-frond headdress

Etiquette · 6 min

Cameras and ritual: why some Theyyams allow no photos or video

Read it. Then go with someone who knows.

Our guided trips put everything in these articles into practice.

See guided trips