Neeliyar Bhagavathi is a Theyyam ritual conducted in the northern part of Kerala, India. Theyyam consisted of several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs. The performance includes complicated rites and rituals. The term Neeliyar Bhagavathi refers to the goddess of the Mangattuparamba Neeliyar temple; the ritual is mainly performed in this temple. This Theyyam is usually performed in the evening, during sunset. The goddess Neeliyar Bhagavathi has temples dedicated to her in different parts of Kannur including Cherukunnu, Eranjikkal, Mathamangala, etc. This particular Theyyam is performed by the Vannan caste. A few musical instruments, like Chenda are used during the performance. According to legend, in Kottiyoor, Kannur, there was once a lower-caste woman called Neeli who was extremely beautiful and intelligent. She was killed by the local ruler. Upon her death, Neeli became the Goddess Neeliyar Bhagavathi. When she was alive, Neeli lived near a sandbank. After her death, whenever travellers came near the river next to this place, Neeliyar Bhagavathi would ask them whether they needed oil and a thaali leaf (used in the place of soap in ancient time) before their bath. Whoever said yes and went near her was captured, whereupon the Goddess Neeliyar Bhagavathi would suck their blood. No one who went near the river ever returned home. Once, a personal called Kalakkad Namboothiri went there for a bath, and saw Neeliyar Bhagavathi. The Goddess asked him his name; he replied saying he was Kalakkad; and the Goddess told him that she was Kali. She then gave him oil and a thaali leaf. Kalakkad drank the oil and thaali juice saying that it was Amruthu (nectar) given to him by his mother. On seeing this, the Goddess was very happy that he called him mother, and so she spared his life, and furthermore accompanied him on his way to the west. Neeliyar Bhagavathi then revealed that she was a Goddess, and said she would like to reside in a temple where the tiger and cow live together peacefully. On their journey, Kalakkad Nambhoothiri saw a cow and tiger co-existing in Mangattuparambu, and so he put down his umbrella (made from the leaves of a palm tree) and rested there. The Goddess was accompanying him by riding atop the umbrella, and decided to stay at the place. Kalakkad Nambhoothiri subsequently set up a temple for the Goddess at the spot.