Andalur Kavu Theyyam

A popular festival, Andalur Kavu Theyyam at Dharmadam village in Kannur district is a festival that depicts a great culture blending ordinary and daily life with ancient mythologies. The festival is a visual spectacle in a region where the residents earnestly follow the ancient and sacred customs throughout the season. During the festival, which lasts for seven days in the second week of February, over 10 Theyyams based on the legendary epic Ramayana are performed here. Daivathar Theyyam (represents Lord Rama), Bappuran Theyyam (Lord Hanuman), Angakkaran Theyyam (Lord Lakshmana), Athiraalarvum Makkalum Theyyam (Goddess Sita and her twins Lava and Kusha) are some of the Theyyams performed here. Believed to have been built by the Sage Parasurama (the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), the kavu is important because it contains two sacred sites - Mele Kavu (upper temple) and Thazhe Kavu (lower temple). Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman are the main deities here and it is one of the few shrines in the Malabar region where the Yuddha Kanda of the epic Ramayana is visualized and performed.