Kozhikode DTPC launches pocket calendar for Thirayattam enriched with augmented reality

A view of the augmented reality pocket calendar on Thirayattam launched by DTPC Kozhikode. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

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District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Kozhikode, Kerala has launched an augmented reality pocket calendar to document and promote the prominent Thirayattam (ritual folk performance) of the district.

The compact and innovative calendar, unveiled by Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas and Forest Minister AK Saseendran during the inauguration of the office of the Organizing Committee of Beypore International Water Festival recently, is the first of its kind. “Event calendars for Theyyam have been here for some time, but this is a first for Thira,” said DTPC Secretary P. Nikhil Das.

Thira is a ritual art form performed to appease the deities in sacred groves (kavu) in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. While many are not familiar enough to know the difference between Theyyam and Thira, the latter has more ornamentation and unlike the former, the performer is not a deity. “The Thira season starts with the festival at Vakkadavu in Kadalundi and ends with Kaliyattam.

The Thira calendar enables visitors to plan a visit to the Kavus (sacred groves) and experience these captivating displays 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, thereby promoting tourism and cultural appreciation in Kozhikode”, Mr. Das said.

Concise 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 start-up FlippAR.

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