Thira: A Sacred Pulse of the Kurichiya Tribe, Mananthavady

Hidden among the emerald hills of Mananthavady in Wayanad, the Kurichiya tribe preserves one of Kerala’s most intense and intimate spiritual traditions — Thira. Far from the commercial gaze, the Kurichiya people's version of Thira is a living, breathing ritual that pulses through the heart of their community.

The Kurichiya Spirit and the Earth

The Kurichiyas, traditionally skilled archers and forest dwellers, have a deep-rooted bond with nature and ancestral worship. For them, Thira is not just a festival; it is a spiritual bridge that ties the past, the present, and the unseen worlds. Held annually around February and March in their sacred kavu (groves) and temples, this Thira is a solemn yet electrifying invocation of the spirits that guard their land.

The Ritual of Becoming

When dusk falls over the highlands of Mananthavady, the Kurichiya villages begin to stir with ancient rhythms. Dancers, often chosen men from the community, transform into the manifestations of gods, heroes, and ancestral spirits. They adorn themselves with hand-crafted wooden crowns, heavy face paint made from natural pigments, and vibrant, earth-toned costumes.

The chenda drums begin to thunder, and with each beat, the dancers slip deeper into trance. It is said that during the peak moments of Thira, the dancers are no longer themselves — they are possessed by the spirit they invoke, delivering blessings, warnings, and messages to the gathered community.

A man in a checkered shirt and scarf around his neck is praying with clasped hands, surrounded by men in traditional orange robes, some with bare chests, during a nighttime ceremony near a hut.
Thira Festival — Mananthavady, Wayanad In the forested hills of Wayanad, the Kurichiya tribe summons ancient spirits through the fierce and sacred ritual of Thira. Under the fire-lit skies, dancers in vivid masks and earth-toned garments become livin
Five men sitting and standing on a raised platform inside a room, some dressed in traditional Indian attire.
Group of people, mostly men, sitting and standing outside a building in traditional Indian clothing, some engaged in conversation, on a dirt ground near a white-walled structure with a red roof and satellite dish.
Two elderly men smiling and sitting outdoors at night, with a group of people standing in the background.
Group of men dressed in traditional clothing participating in a cultural or religious event outdoors at night, with onlookers around.
A large group of people, including women, children, and men, standing on a balcony with a staircase leading up to it, in an indoor setting with pink and purple walls and windows.
Three elderly men sitting inside a room on a mat, wearing traditional clothing, with a wooden door and framed picture in the background.
Three shirtless men in traditional white dhotis with red sashes perform a dance or ritual holding hands, with a group of onlookers dressed in colorful attire watching in the background. The scene appears to be taking place outdoors at night.

A Story Told in Motion

Men dressed in traditional Indian attire dancing in a circle during a festival, with people watching in the background
A man dressed in traditional attire holding a plant, walking barefoot on a dirt ground near a decorated wall with tribal art, in an outdoor setting.
Man walking barefoot on sandy ground, carrying a leafy branch, wearing a white skirt and red cloth around his waist, outdoors at night with decorated wall and trees in the background.
People participating in a traditional cultural dance or procession, dressed in colorful traditional attire, inside a dimly lit hall or temple with wooden structures and a thatched roof.
A man lies on the ground shirtless, covered with a cloth, while another man stands beside him, holding a towel or cloth. The scene appears to be indoors, on a woven mat on the floor.
A man performing a ritual or prayer outdoors at night, lighting candles on a traditional multi-tiered brass lamp, with additional candles and offerings nearby, against a white building with small windows, partially obscured by tree branches.
A man lying on the ground with eyes closed, wearing a white cloth around his waist and a red cloth around his chest, with his hands near his face.

Community in Motion

Sacred Landscapes

Unlike temple-centered festivals in urban Kerala, the Kurichiya Thira often happens in semi-open spaces surrounded by forests, ancient trees, and modest shrines. The proximity to nature amplifies the mystique of the ritual. Flaming torches light up the darkness, casting giant moving shadows, as if the land itself is participating in the ritual.

Community in Motion

Thira is deeply collective among the Kurichiyas. Families gather to prepare offerings: tender rice, coconuts, flowers, and homemade brews. Elders recount the old myths and meanings behind each ritual. Children, wide-eyed, watch the fiery dances, learning the rhythms that will one day be their heritage.

There is no separation between performer and audience here. The entire community vibrates with a shared reverence, awe, and sometimes, fear — for the divine is not distant; it is immediate, alive, and walking among them.

A Living Tradition.

For the Kurichiya tribe, Thira is an affirmation of identity — a defiant act of remembrance in a world that often forgets indigenous voices. It reminds them, and anyone fortunate enough to witness it, that spirituality can be earthy, fierce, and woven into the daily pulse of life.