Art & culture

The Kolathiri kingdom deserves special mention with regard to the cultural heritage of the state. In the 14th and 15th centuries under the Kolathiri Rajas, Taliparamba become a famous centre of learning, enlightenment and culture. With the transfer of the capital of Kolathiri from Taliparamba to Chirakkal, Chirakkal also rose into prominence as a great centre of the arts. The gift of the district in the field of art and culture is its folk arts.

The land of looms and lores Kannur district has its industrial importance mainly in Handloom,Plywood and Beedi industries from very early days. Being blessed with variety of factors such as good soil, salubrious climate, rich forests, enormous fishing potentials, minerals as well as infrastructural facilities like road,rail, inland water transport etc,the district offers ample scope for the development of industries. There are only one major five mini industrial estates in the district.
Cannanore is known as ‘the Manchester of Kerala’. Handloom industry is the most important and the largest in the district.The Handloom cloths of Kannur have won international reputation.
For export of Handloom products Kerala mainly depend upon the products from Cannanore.
Production of quality and exportable varieties of handloom fabrics was started when the Basal Evangelical mission entered the field. The handloom industry, which was once the monopoly of private enterprise, has been organized on co-operative lines. They provides employment to more than lakh persons directly and indirectly.

Kalaripayattu Kalaripayattu is the only from of most ancient traditional systems physical, culture, self-defence and material techniqyes still in extence. It is believed to have had its orgin in Kerala, the tiny state situated South West of India. Thalassery is the threshold of Kalaripayattu. It is considered as the forerunner of Karate & Kung-Fu. The Kalari is treated as the temple of learning. Age old traditions and the customes are still practiced inside the Kalari religiously till today. The Gurukkal system consists of rigorous physical training besides training in self discipline. The weapons used were the Sword, Dragger, Shield, Short sticks, Spears etc.The co-ordination of the body and mind is given maximum importance in this art.

Theyyam [the dance of gods] Theyyam, also traditionally known as Kaliyattam is a unique art from prevalent in the Malabar region of Kerala.
It is performed annually as part of a religious ritual. The performers use of bright colors on their faces and their costumes, powerful and aggressive performances in the back drop of loud and rhythmic music makes it a visual delight. This dance from is masculine in its depiction called “thandava” though most of deities propitiated are mother goddesses.
Theyyam season starts in Oct and end in May every year, during these days theyyam will be performed in many temples (Kavus) in Kannur and Kasargod districts of Kerala.

Vedan Padal or Vedan Pattu Vedan Paddal is a peculiar ceremony observed in certain parts of the district on the month of Karkidakam which coincides with the season of scarcity in Kerala.

Festivals The traditional Hindu in the district, observes a number of religious festivals. Among them the prominent ones are vinayaka Chathurthi (in chingam August - September) Ashtami Rohini (in Chingam August - September) Navarathri ( in Kanni September - October) Maha sivarathri (in Kumbhom February - March) Onam (in chingam) Vishu (in Medom, April - May) and Pooram (in Meenam, March - April).
Onam the harvest festival of Kerala, is celebrated in Kannur also. This festival is limited to two days viz. 'Uthradam' and 'Thiruvonam' days.