Kozhikode DTPC launches pocket calendar for Thirayattams enriched with Augmented Reality

Discover and experience the captivating Thirayattams of Kozhikode with an innovative Augmented Reality Pocket Calendar by DTPC.

:

The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Kozhikode, has launched an Augmented Reality Pocket Calendar to document and promote the major Thirayattams (ritualistic folk performances) of the district. The compact and innovative calendar unveiled by Tourism Minister P.A. Muhammad Riyas and Forests Minster A.K. Saseendran during the opening of the Organising Committee office of the Beypore International water festival recently, is the first of its kind. “Event calendars for Theyyam have been here for a while, but one for Thira is a first”, said DTPC Secretary P. Nikhil Das.

Thira is a ritualistic art form performed to please the deities in sacred groves (Kavu) in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. While many are not familiar enough to note the differences between Theyyam and Thira, the latter has more ornamentation and unlike the former, the performer is not the deity. “The Thira season begins with the festival at Vakkadavu in Kadalundi and ends with a Kaliyattam.

The Thira calendar enables visitors to plan their visits to Kavus (sacred groves) and experience these captivating performances at their convenience. The calendar integrates Augmented Reality (AR) technology, allowing users to scan it with their smartphones for an immersive digital experience of Thira rituals.

“This pocket calendar is a perfect example of how tradition can meet technology. It will serve as a bridge between our cultural heritage and the global audience, boosting tourism and cultural appreciation in Kozhikode”, Mr. Das said.

Compact and user-friendly, the pocket calendar is expected to be a valuable guide for both locals and travellers, ensuring that the charm of Kozhikode’s Thirayattam reaches a wider audience while preserving the essence of this tradition. The initiative was developed in collaboration with Augmented Reality startup FlippAR.

District Collector Snehil Singh Kumar and Peethambaran Murukanathan, an acclaimed Thirayattam artist and recipient of the Kerala Folklore Academy Award in 2025, were present during the launch.