Thira- the Theyyam of Calciut

 “Thira” is another form of traditional folklore like Theyyam. Thira is most common in Kozhikode District Kerala. The most outstanding of the folk arts of Kerala, especially in the northern regions. Also called Thirayattam, (because every thira or village performed this ritualistic art at the village temple). This primitive ritualistic art demands long hours of preparation. The Theyyam or Kolam, represents a mythological, divine or heroic character. There are over 350 Theyyams in northern Kerala. The hood, headdress, face painting, breast plate, bracelets, garlands and fabric of attire of each of these kolams are distinct and meticulously crafted according to the character presented. The instruments used are chenda and veekuchenda (drums), elathalam and kuzhal (horn). This art form is mostly performed in Bhagavathy temples. Performances are carried out between October and May. Thira is the major subdivision of Theyyam.  It is the furious form of God and hence this performance is done after midnight.  Dressing and make-up of this is little fearsome.  Kuttichathan Thira is more interesting because while dressing him up only people around him will start singing legend of Kuttichathan.  At this point in time, God himself will get into his body and he starts blessing each one of the devotees   Gulikan Thira was dressed very simple with coconut tree leaves when it was started but in the middle of the “Thira” there is a custom of putting a face mask which was designed as the face of a devil.  This was actually depicting the furious face of Gulikan   He has to carry a long head dress made of bamboo splicing decorated with clothes and flowers.  This is very much difficult to balance as it is very long as much as more than 50 feet.  This Thira also ends with blessing the devotees, answering queries, and providing solutions.

Foreign invation to Malabar

On May 21, 1498, Vasco da Gama, set foot on the ground in Kerala and became famous for doing what Christopher Columbus set to do five years back — naming random places, India.

Reaching Kerala was not easy; Vasco da Gama’s trip took more than a year since he had to circumnavigate around Africa. The friendly thrust of the south west monsoons helped them cross the Indian Ocean.  Twenty three days later they were in Calicut(Kozhikode), one of the largest ports of the time.

There was one reason why remote Malabar coast looked attractive to the residents of Portugal to undertake such perilous voyages. In Malabar, the global epicenter of spice trade, the traders got ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon, which were in great demand in Europe. But the treasure they were looking for was pepper; the vines which randomly grows on various trees in my back yard was to Kerala what oil is to Saudi Arabia. Pepper vine grew in many countries, but Malabar brand was considered the best and the monsoons which nourished the pepper vine also bought customers cross the ocean.

In fact, this was not the first time that traders came from distant lands. When Vasco da Gama’s homeland was a barren wilderness of Lusitanian tribesmen, Romans had done it on a much grander scale. 1500 years before the Portuguese trip, Strabo learned on a visit to Egypt that “some 120 ships complete the voyage from the Straits of Hormuz to India”.  During Pliny the Elder’s time Alexandria was the major Roman trading hub. Merchants went up the Nile to Coptos, traveled two hundred miles at night through the desert to Berenice, a port on the Red Sea and set sail from Berenice to Ocelis,  on the Arabia’s southern coast or Canes on the Africa’s eastern coast. Then taking advantage of the trade winds, they crossed the Arabian Sea in forty days in the mid-September and reached Malabar coast 

The profit margin was 100% for the Romans, but this trade also brought immense wealth to Kerala. In their trading voyages to West Africa, the Portuguese would trade trinkets for goods and Vasco da Gama was shocked his gifts — honey, hats, scarlet hoods and washbasins — were considered worthless by Calicut natives. The Zamorin instead demanded payments in gold and silver.

Chembra Peak -Wayanad

  One of the highest peaks in Wayanad district, The Chembra. The peak stands 2100 meters above the sea level and is part of the Meppadi Forest Range. Just 14 km away from Kalpeta, Chembra Peak is the tallest peak in Wayanad.  It will take one and half hour of strenuous trek to reach the central point of the peak from the watch tower. For those adventure seekers, temporary camps are set up on the top of the peak. Guides, camping apparatus etc are provided by District Tourism Promotion Council on rent to tourists who are interested in camping and trekking. At the zenith there is a heart-shaped perennial lake where drinking water is available from the nearby natural springs even at the height of summer.    

   It is believed that, a hundred years ago, the British planters met here every evening to play golf. The planters laid out a golf course, put up a small rest house and a stable to keep their horse. The relics of the rest house and the vestiges of the road they used to ride their horse-carts are visible even now. Here, on the pinnacle of the peak, the nature reveals the picturesque beauty of the virgin shola forest on both sides. Most parts of the district is visible from the peak. The town of Kalpetta, the snow-covered peaks of the Nilgiri ranges and the lush greenery of Nilambur forest range in Malappuram district… an alluring experience for travellers.       Suchipara falls (having a drop of 650 feet), which is about 22 kms south of Kalpetta. A well laid path and steps which take you right to the bottom of the magnificent falls. We rest at quiet place around the falls where we could enjoy the music of the falls and wind in the trees.

With a mesmerizing silhouette, the Chembra Peak in Kerala is one of the most favored trekking destinations. If you're an adventure freak and undertaking mountain hiking, it is worth taking. When you will reach on the top of the Chembra Peak Kerala it is guaranteed that you will forget your pain and stress. You will be captivated by nature's bounteous beauty. The kaleidoscopic view of Wayanad from the top of the peak is breathtaking.

The picture perfect lake atop the hill is a perfect picnic spot. It will take almost a day to reach at the top of the hill and you can spend a day or two in temporary camps. In the midst of scenic surroundings, take a tour to Chembra Peak that will rejuvenate all your senses. The nearest town to the Chembra hill is Meppadi and it is just 12 km away from Kalpetta. 

Payyambalam Beach -Kannur

Payyambalam Beach - One of the most beautiful beaches in the state of Kerala is at a distance of 2 km from Kannur town. Kerala. This beautiful stretch of sand and surf is the best place for a relaxing holiday. A quiet, secluded, beautiful and popular picnic spot of the local people, the Payyambalam Beach holds much potential for development into a tourist resort. 

The beach garden, which offers a lovely view of the sea itself is picturesque in its nature. The magnificient landscaped sculpture of mother & child adds to Payyambalam's beauty. Kanayi Kunhiraman, a noted sculptor errected this sculpture.

Location: 2 km from Kannur town, Kannur district, north Kerala. The beach is only walking distance from Fort St. Angelo, it is also an ideal spot to spend your evenings throughout the year.

Quiet, secluded, this beautiful stretch of sand and surf is the best locale for a relaxed evening. The Payyambalam beach is a popular picnic spot of the local people and holds much potential for development into a tourist resort.

The rest of the land - Kannur - is equally fascinating to explore. Being the cradle of ageless folk arts like Theyyam and folk music , Kannur has always remained a land of ageless charms.

However, if you decide to hide away at this beach destination, your stay should be arranged in the town 2 km away. Comfortable accommodation is available.

Getting there: National Highway 17 passes through Kannur.

Nearest railway station : Kannur, about 2 km.

Nearest airport : Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode, 93 km to the south.

Kaliyattam-saga of Theyyams

Kaliyattam is an ancient socio-religious ceremony performed in North Kerala since very ancient times. In early times every village of North Kerala has its own common shrine called KAVU and it was imperative to have Kaliyattom performed in front of it. As the word Kali has also the meaning of "safety" in Malayalam, Kaliyattom may have the significance of a sacred dance for social or family safety. As Kerala was primarily a land of people with Sakthi (Bhagavathi) worshippers, the Kaliyattom became very much an essential part of the social structure. Kali worship made its stronghold especially in the northern parts of Kerala, known as the Kolathirinad, the ancient kingdom of Kolathiri (Chirakkal Raja) Therefore it was in Kolathunad (North Malabar ) at kaliyattom flourished more than in any other part of Kerala. In this way, a wide range of Kaliyattom nurtured and developed.

With the passage of time along with different aspects of Kali, various other Kolams of heroes and heroines were defined and special Kolams were attributed to them. Thus we find Sankaracharya as Pottan Daivam, Thacholi Othenan as Ponniatu Pataveeran, Katangot Makkam as Makkapottu and the great commander of the Kolathiri military as Vayanattukulavan. In short, in Kaliyattom, permanent forms and special attributed are given to Kolams and divine as well as hero worship is substantially and methodically carried out. Each manifestation in a Kaliyattom is known as Kolam. Kolam actually means "shape" or form. God, goddess, hero or heroine have their own peculiar and specific forms, and each form has its own particular representative aspects. To bring out that aspects each Kolam has special features in face painting which is a work of difficult craftsmanship and is a unique piece of art.

Some Kolams take eight to ten hours time to paint the face according to the strict rules of tradition. In the same way the crowns, head dress, breast plates, arm ornaments, bangles, garland and above all the woollen or cotton garments are all so elaborately furnished and variously shaped that the figure of a Kolam is something to see and wonder. It is said that the vivid and masterly ornamental dressing of Kathakali has originated from this. Kaliyattoms are generally conducted in places of worship called Kottams and Palliyara. Besides, there are compartments set apart in family houses where the family deities are worshipped. In such houses Kaliyattoms are performed in the courtyards just in front of the separate compartments. (Normally the season for Kaliyattom is from December to May.) There are various ceremonies conducted in a Kaliyattom, the most serious and important being the actual manifestation of the Kolam. Just before the Kolam a song describing the history of that particular Kolam and its great strength and holy aspect is sung by a set of people to the accompaniment of chenda and elthalam. After the songs are sung the Kolam appears before the assembly of the people, in front of the place of worship. It is believed that the spirit of the god or goddess or hero or heroine of the Kolam migrates into the person who has assumed that Kolam. Then the Kolam performs various types of dancing with chenda and elathalam as the chief accompaniments. In the actual dancing there are the slow - paced dances and fast moving ones. The former is called Pathiniyattom and the later Elakiyattom. Swords and shields, bows and arrows and other weapons are used. Sometimes sword play of a very high order is displayed. Kaliyattom is performed generally in the night and sometimes some of the Kolams will go on even after day - break. Clothe torches (Panthoms) and the coconut leaf torches (chootu) are used in plenty. The red light of the torches with sharp contrast of light and shade gives the entire scene a glamorous setting. The crowns and the articles of dress receive further additions of pictorial cuttings of white tender coconut leaves and bunches of red flowers. Kaliyattom is conducted for propitiating god and goddess to bless the family or community. There are particular communities for performing Kaliyattom. It is rather curious that Kaliyattom which is performed for all sections of people in Kerala from Brahmins downwards, the persons authorised to assume Kolams are from the untouchable classes, like Malayans, Peruvannans and Velas.