Theyyakkalam Photography Contest 2026

Capturing the
Divine Moment

Edition I  •  September 2026  •  Open to all photographers

Submit Your Entry Rules & Guidelines
₹ 5,000 Total Prize Pool
2 Categories · 6 Winners
Sep 1 Contest Opens
Sep 30 Submissions Close · 11:59 PM
Oct Wk 2 Results Announced
Contest About the Contest

Witness a Sacred Ritual.
Share it with the World.

Theyyam is more than ritual. It is a living encounter between the human and the divine. Each costume, each flame, each gesture is centuries of devotion made visible in a single, unrepeatable moment.

“Whether you shot on a professional camera or a smartphone, if the moment is true, it belongs here.”

The winning photographs will be featured permanently on the Theyyakkalam archive, Kerala's primary digital home for the Theyyam tradition, with full credit and a link to your profile.

See the prizes
Agni Khandakarnan Theyyam, Kannur
Agni Khandakarnan, Kannur
Prizes Cash Prizes

Two Categories.
Six Winners.

Category 01 Mobile Photography Smartphones & Tablets · EXIF device verified
I First Place — Mobile

₹ 1,000

Featured on Theyyakkalam archive
Photo credit & profile link
Social media feature
Digital certificate
II Second Place — Mobile

₹ 500

Featured on Theyyakkalam archive
Photo credit & profile link
Digital certificate
III Third Place — Mobile

₹ 250

Featured on Theyyakkalam archive
Photo credit & profile link
Digital certificate
Category 02 Professional Photography SLR · DSLR · Mirrorless · EXIF device verified
I First Place — Professional

₹ 1,500

Featured on Theyyakkalam archive
Photo credit & profile link
Social media feature
Digital certificate
II Second Place — Professional

₹ 1,000

Featured on Theyyakkalam archive
Photo credit & profile link
Digital certificate
III Third Place — Professional

₹ 750

Featured on Theyyakkalam archive
Photo credit & profile link
Digital certificate
Submit Your Entry — No Entry Fee
Schedule Contest Timeline

Key Dates

I
Sep 1
Contest Opens
Submissions open at 12:00 AM IST.
Follow all required accounts before submitting.
II
Sep 1 → Sep 30
Submissions
Submit your entry before 11:59 PM IST, September 30.
One entry per person. No late entries.
III
Oct 1 → Oct 11
Judging
Our jury reviews all entries based on composition, authenticity, quality, EXIF and emotional impact.
Shortlisted participants will be contacted and asked to submit their original RAW files for authenticity verification.
IV
October, Week 2
Winners Announced
Winners will be announced on Theyyakkalam and Instagram.
Prize money transferred within 7 working days.
Winning photographs added to the archive with full credit.
Partners In Partnership With

Our Sponsors
& Partners

Interested in sponsoring this contest? Write to theyyakalamofficial@gmail.com