Photo credits: Jobsun

The Bappiriyan Theyyam is mostly performed in the Kannur district, a major center for Theyyam in the north of Kerala. The most significent aspect of this Theyyam is that the performer climbs to the top of a coconut tree, sometimes even dropping a couple of coconuts when he’s there.

The Bappiriyan represents a follower of Hanuman, the monkey god known to be a trickster.  The theyyam is considered the traditional job of the Theeya caste.

Representing HanumTheyyam climbs to the top of a coconut tree