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Kankole Vaidhyanadheswara Temple – Theyyam Thira Kaliyattam Festival

Kankole Vaidhyanadheswara temple (also known as Thekkan Kariyathan Kottam) is located at Kunnumbram, Kankol in Kannur district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Shiva in Vaidhyanatha form. The annual theyyam thira kaliyattam festival is held for four day is Dhanu Masam – Dhanu 4 to Dhanu 7 (December 20 to December 23).

The important theyyams that can be witnessed at Kankole Vaidhyanadheswara temple are Thekkan Kariyathan theyyam, Panayakkatu Bhagavaghty, Kaikoolan, Vellangara Bhagavathy, Sree Bhootham, Gulikan theyyam, Rakta Chamundi theyyam and Vishnumoorthi theyyam. (തെക്കേന്‍ കരിയാത്തന്‍ , പണയക്കാട്ട് ഭഗവതി ,വിഷ്ണു മൂര്‍ത്തി ,രക്ത ചാമുണ്ഡി ,കെെക്കോളന്‍ വെള്ളാരങ്ങര ഭഗവതി ,ഗുളികന്‍ ശ്രീ ഭൂതം എന്നീ തെയ്യക്കോലങ്ങള്‍)

The shrine has a chathura sreekovil (square sanctum sanctorum) for the main deity. Other deities are worshipped under tree and on small raised square platforms. Ayyiliyam puja is performed in the grove dedicated to Nagas. Gulikan theyyam is performed devotees here as an offering.