Theyyam visitor etiquette card

A one-page card to read before a Theyyam and to keep on your phone: where to stand, what to wear, and when to put the camera down.

Best for: First-time visitors to a Theyyam in North Kerala.

When to use it: Read it the day before, then again on the way to the shrine.

Before you go

• Ask your host which shrine, which night, and whether visitors are welcome that night.
• Confirm with a local host, a homestay or the kavu committee. There is no central ticket office, and shrine calendars change.
• Eat first, bring water and a torch, and keep the next morning free: many Theyyams run through the night.

On the night

• Arrive early and stand back. The front belongs to devotees.
• Dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered, footwear usually left outside the shrine.
• Ask before you photograph, accept a no, and never use flash.
• Do not touch the performer or the costume, and do not cross the open space in front of the shrine.
• Keep away from where the performer dresses unless you have been invited.

Skip it if

You want a staged performance, a fixed schedule or a photograph-first experience.