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Uday Khambadkone
www.udaykhambadkone.com
Theyyam is a thousand-year-old ritualistic festival celebrated in the northern part of Kerala, India. Unlike other festivals in India where idols are worshipped, here people embody a deity and perform in front of an audience, often village people. The word Theyyam derives from the word Deivam, the Sanskrit word for God. Today it is social ritual. The performers of Theyyam embody the Gods by narrating stories through songs, music and dance. Villagers gather to witness, get advice on their problems and seek blessing from the Theyyam.
These photographs narrate the journey of this ritualistic festival that is traditionally passed down through families. Though most of the festival ritual happens during night, it starts well before with all the family members and friends chipping in their part of preparing meals, creating the elaborate dresses and face masks. All the paint and dress is made naturally with tree leaves and flowers. Even this process is passed down through generations and is still done the same way. Typical makeup and decoration for a Theyyam artist takes roughly 3-5 hours. It is a team effort with approximately two dozen people involved in this endeavor from dress weaving, making face masks, head-gear, body and face painting.
The initiation process of inviting the Theyyam (God) is done by the priests of the village and is witnessed by all the village folks. The elaborate initiation process summons the God and transforms the human being. Once the initiation process is completed by the priests, the Theyyam takes control and becomes the center stage. The entire village including the priests are there to witness the song, dance and stories narrated by the Theyyam.
One part of ritual involves villagers lining up and telling their grievances as the Theyyam listens and shells out advice. In another ritual called, Pottan Theyyam, the Theyyam rolls on the fire pit symbolizing destruction of social evils prevailing in the society in order to bring social harmony to the village. There are several Gods invoked throughout the night and each play a different role. The ritual ends at the dawn of light.
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