The People: 
Thekkepuran's – A group of people who lives in Thekepuram area has distinct sets of behavior and characteristic that differentiates them from a larger culture of which they are a part. Every Thekkepuran's have a unique codes of manners, morality, dress, language, rituals, games. Few peoples in the world have the power to explore the possibilities & get along with it to make it success and we believe that each Thekkepuran's have the willpower to accomplish individual as well as social commitment.

Being a Thekkepuran, each member is trying their best to strengthen the unity by keeping their own identity wherever they are around the world.


Trade/ Business: 
Kozhikode Koya (Thekkepuran) is a member of a community closely connected to Thekkepuram- a neighborhood in the south-west of the city where the majority of the community either continues to live or has its roots. Community's present and past economic activities such as commerce in timber, copra and rice has played a vital role for the domination and development of regions especially the commodity bazaars in the north, retail bazaars in the east, coastal godowns in the west and river side timber yards and wood mills in the south.

Trade with gulf countries allowed Koyas to accumulate substantial capital from the mid nineteenth century onwards. It also occupies a special place in the historical imagination of Koyas; often well beyond its actual economic importance. Business with Arab Traders lead them to share locally produced consumer goods such as spices, timber, coir and it helped them to extend their business roots to different countries such as Basra( Iraq ), Kuwait and Oman.

With the slow death of the timber and Arab trade, together with the incipient decline of commodity bazaars, migration to the Gulf has become the primary source of income. It is rare to find any household of Thekkepuram without at least one member in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait or Oman. More than 20% of the Thekkepuram population is working abroad (mainly in the Middle-East) and this brings foreign currency into the state.


Tharavadu: 
Tharavadu is a system of joint family practiced by people in Kerala, It is not varying much for Thekkepuram too….. Thekkepuram area is noted for the unique example of medieval Kerala architecture showcased through the aristocratic residential houses (Tharavads). Thekkepuram Tharavad's are in unique architecture style with an inner courtyard or many inner courtyards enclosed within the several large buildings built in the traditional style, including wells. Each Thekkepuram Tharavadu has a unique name and all Thekkepuran is identified through the mother's tharavad name.

The Tharavadu is administered by a Karnavar, the senior most male member of the family, who would be the eldest maternal uncle of the family. The members of the Tharavadu consisted of mother, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers. The fathers and husbands had only a very minimal role to play in the affairs of the Tharavadu. It was a true matrilineal affair. The Karanavar is taking all major decisions; however, the consent of the eldest female member of the family will obtain before implementing the decisions. This eldest female member would be his maternal grandmother, own mother, mother's sister, his own sister or a sister through his maternal lineage. Since the lineage is through the female members, the birth of a daughter is always welcomed.

A fresh water pond (Kulam) was an essential requirement for the Tharavadu for bathing/laundry purposes. Daily baths are must for all Thekkepuran's. One peculiarity of Thekkepuram tharavadu in the past was that they were built always quite deep into the landed property owned by the tharavadu and almost in the middle of the main property, However as the families grew bigger and more homes were built, in recent times . Even joint families grew and established independent settlements, the Sakhas (branches) modified the names in such a way that the main Tharavadu names are identifiable.

Marriage:
Thekkepuram marriages are generally arranged marriages by the parents – they are social contracts as opposed to marriages between ‘soul mates’ - although the bride and groom have a final say about just who they will wed or not wed. Interestingly, the proposal comes from the woman, who contacts the man via an intermediary.
Due to the influence of consumerist culture, DOWRY is practiced in the state, whereas Thekkepuram people are AGAINST the DOWRY and compared to women (Muslims / Non Muslims) in other parts, Thekkepuram women are in better position and they are protected from the Dowry violence and wife battering.

Thekkepuram people follow Islamic marriage by conducting NIKAH. It is the first part of the marriage ceremony, a contract between the couple and Allah; a religious obligation. It is usually a fairly simple ceremony and includes reading from the Qur’an and the exchange of vows in front of a minimum of two witnesses. Both bride and groom express their free will by repeating the word qabul (I accept) three times. Often the Imam is present for a short sermon. Once the groom has accepted the offer of marriage, he gives the bride a mahar (meher, mahr) or gift. This is a financial deal that the groom must agree with the bride, which is then given to her for her use as she wishes. This ceremony doesn’t need to take place in a mosque, and any Muslim who understands Islamic tradition can officiate. Marriages must be declared public – they should never be clandestine – and the publicity is usually demonstrated by having a large feast. The marriage ceremonies differ depending on each one's financial background.

After marriage women continue living in their ancestral houses and their puthiaplas (husbands) move in. This social custom is reflected in the architecture of their ancient houses. Every time a daughter in the family gets married a new room (maniyara –wedlock room) is added to the house to accommodate the newly weds.
There are so many Funny customs and rituals are connected with the Thekkepuram marriage which is starting from Engagement (Vakku Kodukal), Pennu Kanal, Osaram Kodukal (Exchange of Gifts) Vethila kettu (Marriage Eve), Puthukkam (comprises Bringing of girl from her house to the Boys house by 50-100 ladies/Children from the boy's family on the wedding day), Arayil Akkal are very few customs related to the marriage.  


Dressing: 
Thekkepuram is considered a conservative area because of the strong Muslim presence in contrast to other areas in the city. Hence they are keen to follow an Islamic Dress code. People in Thekkepuram are more than averagely high spending especially in dressing well. . The Pardah is often referred to as “Muslim dress” for ladies and many Thekkepuram ladies are wearing Pardah since it is not reveal the body's shape, but is loose. It is notable that thekkepuram women also talk of convenience: they often go out of the house, and sometimes into town, wearing only a maxi (house-dress) under the pardah. This is much easier than putting on a sari or churidar.
 
The Churidar is also a widely preferred in daily use and even at parties and pre-wedding functions. Saris are brought out by married women for weddings, but on no other occasions are they considered compulsory. Especially elaborate churidars are considered suitable as formal wear by young married women .Another aspect of the Muslim churidar is that the neckline is always covered by the MAFTA - headscarf. Even when women remove outer pardah dress in women’s rooms at functions, they keep the mafta on.
 
Another traditional costume of Thekkepuram Old women comprises of "kachi" – A rectangular piece of cloth .The kachi enveloping a women from the waist, is tucked into the waistband of silver thread. The shades of Kachis are generally white with green borders .It is topped off by full sleeves close –fitting "kuppayam" (shirt) around the waist. The color –smeared scarf, known as Thattam, serves as wonderful headdress.

Normally an old age thekkepuram men wears Mundu & Shirt. Middle age and youngsters prefer to wear trouser (Pants) and Shirt. It is still observable that Old & Middle age Gulf migrants always wear trousers when away, but on return to hometown they revert to mundu. Those men who work outside the bazaar—in professions or business— use trousers, and tend to follow wider fashion trends; during 1970's wearing Wide bell-bottoms were fashion ,while currently many are wearing chinos, Khakis and other standard shirts and pants show subtle signs of distinction.

Endowed with physical beauty, and surrounded by a rich and bountiful nature, it is the practice of   the thekkepuram ladies to pay little attention to outward embellishments in jewellery.   With advancing civilization, changing fashions came to be introduced and innumerable varieties of ornaments for the different parts of the body.
 
Food - A Cosmopolitan Particularism:
Not only do Thekkepuram accept new food influences, they seem actively to seek them out as part of their generalized interest in food, feasting and eating out. Thekkepuram food itself is well-known outside the community and is highly specific. Several Thekkepuram food items are related to the Arab culinary traditions .The drink cava (Yemeni qahwa) which is served after biryani and at festive occasions is one example for the same. 

Thekkepuram offers a variety of cuisines, from the simple vegetarian to the meat-heavy, spicy dishes. And you just have to  try kallumakaya porichathu (mussels fry, had with rice) neriya pathiri, (tissue paper-like rice chapattis), kanji (rice-soup), kappa varuthathu (tapioca fried), meen molakittathu (a hot fish curry), puttu with local fish stew, or wheat pathiri (Gothamb Pathitiri) served with kozhi nirthiporichathu, a chicken fry with egg or kada (a small bird) fry. Neyichor (ghee rice) with a mellow beef stew prepared in coconut milk are very few dishes. Thenga Chor (Coconut Rice), Chicken, Mutton, Fish biriyani is also well known in Thekkepuram.

The sweet meats of Thekkepuram are legendary. These include chattippathiri, mutta marichathu, muttappathiri, muttamala, mutta surkka — all prepared with eggs. Pazham nirachathu (banana fry with coconut) and sweet coconut samosa or bayakkada (made of banana) are some of them. Food for Thekkepuram is tightly linked to sociality and to hospitality.


Social life:
The sociality of Koya men revolves around Thekkepuram. Every evening, after prayer, men get together in groups to exchange gossip, talk over daily political events or simply enjoy each other’s company. Such groups of friends, who have often known each other since childhood, from school or are from the same or related tharavadu, meet every evening in the same place a street corner; around a bench; outside someone’s office. Some groups are more formal and may rent old shops to hold their daily meetings. In many groups, members take turns to organize a monthly communal meal or, during Ramzan, an iftar (fast-breaking) party. Thekkepuram friendships and groups are reproduced in the Gulf, where the more formalized associations will have ‘branches’ or ‘chapters’, meeting every weekend and organizing fund-raising activities for charity purposes and also conducts  ‘family meets’.
 
Koya womenfolk, meanwhile, also remain rooted strongly in the area, moving in even more tightly restricted (family based) circles. All women in this matrilineal-oriented community are strongly enmeshed in the lives of their female kin, sociality being the mainstay of Koya womenfolk’s spare time. This is a daily matter in the case of tharavadu co-residents, and regular in the case of more distant relations. The lanes of Thekkepuram are always busy, and utterly thronged on Fridays and Sundays, with groups of women and their kids in auto-rickshaws, going to pay visits to relatives.
 
Women from families who have moved out of the area frequently drop by the tharavadu, even if it means, as it often does, an hour-long bus trip. A shopping trip for new clothes for the kids or to exchange a gold chain is always turned into a social opportunity, sometimes extended by tea or food in the family room of a restaurant. The party, more properly the salkaram (in Thekkepuram dialect the takkaram) is a greatly enjoyed aspect of Thekkepuram social life, part of the Thekkepuram value of making jolly. Marriage functions, house warming ceremony, festive seasons (Eid & Bakrid) are some of the time where thekkepuram people enjoy and utilize to strengthen their relationship with relatives by exchanging gifts and wishes.

The story of Kozhikode culture will not be complete without mentioning the name -  Thekkepuram