Page 11 - Kerala Holidays Magazine Volume 1

KERALA HOLIDAY
DVISER
There is an explosion of colors with the awe-in-
spiring headgears, costumes, and face designs.
The rhythm of the resonating beats of the
chenda, the intense fragrance of the burning
camphor mystifying the ambiance. You stand
agape with saucer-wide eyes at the splendor of
the dancing figure before you. These are the
aspects that contribute to the grandeur of this
spectacle called Theyyam.
A Theyyam performance is no single time expe-
rience. An ancient ritualistic form of worship
native to the north Malabar region of Kerala, the
roots of this folk art, which is a blend of dance,
music, and fervent devotion, can be traced back
to the Chalcolithic Age.
Each Theyyam performance has an aura of
divine splendor as it is accompanied by rituals
and other devotional music. The tales are
woven into the history of this folk ritual range
from that of yakshis (spirits) witches and myths
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of serpent and animal deities to the deeds of
local heroes and ancestors. In many senses, the
Theyyam is often a form of historical documen-
tation of the society. The Theyyam is also linked
with fertility rites and many of its myths are
intimately related to the curing of illnesses and
agricultural productivity.
It is believed that while performing, the artist
becomes the representative of the divine. The
word 'Theyyam' is local parlance for God. To
millions in Kerala, Theyyam is their visible and
tangible Gods and Goddesses. It is usually
performed in shrines; sacred groves called
kaavu or at ancestral homes called tharavadu in
villages. The Theyyam season in Kerala usually
commences in October and lasts up to May.
Malabar is a coy land, one that reveals its trea-
sures slowly. And the Theyyam is a ritual that
should not be rushed into. Rather, take your
time and savour its finest nuances to take home
with you an experience that will remain etched
in your heart for eternity.