Temples, mosques and churches
In Kerala the temples, mosques and churches rub shoulders. You can witness colourful religious ceremonies and see the religious communities at ease with each other. The Syrian Christians of Kerala believe that St. Thomas, one of the direct disciples of Christ landed near Muziris in 52 AD and established 7 churches, of which 4 exist even today. This Syrian Christian church in Kottayam is well worth a visit.
Theyyam
The Theyyam or Theyyattam is a popular ritual dance of North Kerala, particularly now found in the Kannur and Kasargode districts. As a living cult with centuries old traditions, ritual and custom, it embraces almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion in this region. The term Theyyam is a corrupt form of daivam or God. It is a rare combination of dance and music and reflects important features of a tribal culture. The priest/dancer below is performing the ritual at a small temple near Tellicherry.
Kathakali
Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. Kathakali is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code.
