5 Kerala temple festival videos to make your Vishu special

Kerala is a living kaleidoscope of folk art traditions that come vibrantly alive in the festive season. From Theyyam performances in Kannur to the Valliyoorkavu Festival in Wayanad, enjoy this visual journey through some of the ritual arts and festivals of Kerala.

Theyyam at Madayi Kaavu temple, Kannur

Kannur’s Madayi Kaavu, where the Mother Goddess or Bhagavathy is worshipped, is believed to be one of the oldest shrines in the region. The deity is appeased through votive sacrifices of poultry. Fishing in a nearby river is considered auspicious and the catch — known as Kavu Pidi (catch of the temple) is believed to be the gift of the goddess.

The temple is noted for its Kaliyattam, the performances of the ritual dance-theatre of Theyyam performed by dancers wearing elaborate headdresses and costumes. Theyyam is endemic to Kerala’s North Malabar region and the Theyyam dancer is perceived as a representation of divinity. The dancer, accompanied by drummers, sings the ritual song. The patterns of face-painting vary greatly and communicate different meanings. Each step of the Theyyam dance is known as a kalasam. At the end of the performance, the Theyyam circumambulates the shrine and runs into the courtyard where the performance is continued. There are believed to be over 400 styles of Theyyam.

Getting there:The temple is located 23 km from the town of Kannur, which is well connected by rail and road. The nearest airport is Mangalore.

Machattu Mamangam, Vadakkancherry, Thrissur

The Thuruvanikavu temple in Vadakkancherry is famous for a five-day festival called Machattu that takes place in mid-February. The most striking feature of the rituals are the gigantic models of horses — known as Kuthirakolam. They are ornately decorated and borne on the shoulders of village-folk in a grand procession. Caparisoned elephants are also taken in procession along with chendamelam — a percussion ensemble of drummers playing the traditional temple drum known as chenda.

Getting there:Vadakkancherry is 21 km from Thrissur, a major town well connected by road and rail. The nearest airport is at Kochi

Valliyoorkavu Festival, Wayanad

Located on the banks of the Kabini River, Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathi Temple is dedicated to the Mother Goddess, who is worshipped in many manifestations as Vana Durga (Goddess of the Forest), Jala Durga (Goddess of the Water) and Bhadrakali (the fierce avatar of the goddess). The temple has long been an important part of the tribal culture in Wayanad and is well known for its annual festival marked by song and dances. The 15-day Valliyoorkavu Festival occurs between the first and fourteenth days of the Malayalam month Meenam, which corresponds variably with the months of February, March or April.

The major attraction of the festival is Kalamezhuthu, a musical performance with traditional percussion instruments. The roots of the festival lie in the ancient practice of bonded labour. On the occasion of the festival, bonded laborers renewed their annual contract with their masters at the temple grounds. With the change of times and social mores, this aspect of the festival has become merely ritualistic. Even today, though, the tribal people use the festival as an opportunity to pitch for new work. In recent years, the more traditional aspects of the festival have given way to popular entertainment. There is time, however, to witness this dying tradition before it is changed forever.

How to get there:Valliyoorkavu Temple is 8 km from Mananthavady and 24 km from Kalpetta, the district headquarters of Kerala’s Wayanad district. The nearest airport is at Kozhikode.

Kadamanitta Padayani

Kadamanitta is a sleepy village in the hills of Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. In March-April every year, the Bhagavathy temple here (dedicated to the Mother Goddess, particularly her fierce manifestation of Bhadrakali) is witness to a colorful ritual known as Padayani. Deities attired in highly stylized costumes simulate a military formation founded on the lore that the goddess was in anger after slaying a demon and had to be calmed by the hordes of Siva, who danced before her to placate her fury. The costumed dancers represent these troops. Blending facial masks, music, dance, theatre and satire, Padayani is a unique form of performance and has received patronage from the state government in recent years.

Getting there:Kadamanitta is located 6 km from Pathanamthitta town, which is regarded as the headquarters of pilgrimage tourism in Kerala. Pathanamthitta is easily accessed from Kottayam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram (nearest airport).

Thaipooya Mahotsavam at Koorkanchery Sree Maheswara Temple, Thrissur district

The idol of Lord Shiva at Koorkanchery Sree Maheswara Temple was consecrated by the spiritual teacher Sree Narayana Guru. Thaipooya Mahotsavam is dedicated to the eldest son of Lord Shiva and his celestial consort Parvati, Kartikeya or Subramanya, and is celebrated by pilgrims carrying kavadis — richly decorated wooden votive arches — on their shoulders. The highlight of the seven-day festival is Kavadiyattom, where the devotees dance with the kavadis. The event concludes with a dazzling fireworks display.

Getting there:Koorkanchery is just 3 km from the well-connected town of Thrissur. The nearest airport is at Kochi.

Write a guest blog or send us a photo-essay about your favorite Kerala traditions. Do read our submission guidelines before you begin.