Kothammuriyattom is a village folk art form of northern

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is in fact Godavariyattom. Basically it is a ''

theyyam Theyyam (/ t̪eːjjəm/; romanised: ''teyyam'') are Hindu ritualistic dance forms practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and c ...

'' (a popular ritual form of worship of

North Malabar North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, and the taluks of Vatakara, Koyilandy, and Thamarassery in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and t ...

), with the image of a cow-face attached to mid part of the body. Usually a boy is selected to do this. Special hair work, face pack, and costumes accompany this. Paniyas also assist the main character. It is believed that, after this play, the country becomes prosperous with more yields and increased number of livestock. With drum patterns serving as the music, the speech is both socially conscious and humorous.

See also