About the Image(s)

I took this in Kerala (India) in February this year. I had gone there to attend the prayer festival of Theyyam.

Theyyam is a vibrant ritualistic performance art form practiced predominantly in the northern Malabar region of Kerala, India, particularly in Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Rooted in ancient tribal and Dravidian traditions, it blends dance, music, and elaborate costumes to invoke deities and ancestral spirits. Performed by artists from specific communities, Theyyam involves intricate makeup, colorful attire, and headgear, transforming performers into divine figures worshipped by devotees. Accompanied by traditional instruments like the chenda drum, the performances are held in sacred groves or village temples, often during festivals between December and April. Theyyam serves as a spiritual and social medium, addressing community issues, offering blessings, and preserving cultural heritage through its mesmerizing storytelling and rituals.

This is one of the pictures I took during my few days there.