Nileshwaram - Arts and Culture

Arts and Culture

A number of socio-cultural organizations thrive in Nileshwaram. Neeleshwaram is known as the 'Cultural capital of Kasaragod District'. The town is home to folk arts, temple festivals, a palace, kavuus (sacred grooves), old markets, and a weaver street. Festivals in Nileshwaram are Pooram and Kalasam in Mannampurathukavu, the festival in Thaliyil temple and Thrukarthika and Pooram in Pallikkara Bhagavathi Temple. Porat (ശാലീയ പൊറാട്ട്) in Anjoottabalam Veerarkavu, the Vishukkaliyattam festival in Thattacherry Vadayanthoor Kazhakam, and the Pooram festival in Cheermakkavu attract thousands of people in the month of Meenam. The temple premises are decked with red cloth while devotees offer gifts to the goddess in gratitude and ask for the cure of diseases like chicken pox. The Theyyam festival, which is performed in several kavus, tharavads, and other sacred buildings attract large numbers of foreigners. Festivities start on Thulam 10 and continue till Idavam. In Nileshwar alone, Theyyam is performed in many different forms, like Padarkulangara Bhagavathi, Padinhare Chamundi, Moovalamkuzhi Chamundi, Kundor Chamundi, Raktha Chamundi, Vishnumoorthi, Palot Daivam, Muchilot Bhagavathi, Vairajathan, Bhairavan, several Bhagavathis, Gulikans and Pottan in Aramana house. Artists who lived in Nileshwaram include Kanayi Kunhiraman, Kavya Madhavan and Sanusha