Theyyam Festival - Kasaragod, Kannur - Kerala

Theyyam is an ancient spiritual art-form which is unique to the state of Kerala - India.The performance includes a performer decorated in various ways, with Red as the prominent color, the temple drummers and vast numbers of devotees from all over Kerala.These performances are mostly conducted in Temples and for the duration of the acts, the performers are considered, the gods. People worship them, make offerings to please them and eventually receive their blessings and predictions for their future.It is estimated that there are around 300 varieties of Theyyam makeups or performances. The right to perform as a Theyyam comes through the ancestral family rights.
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Make-ups with natural colors made of leaf extracts and turmeric are very important parts of any Theyyam performances.The make-up artists, who are mostly theyyam performers themself, are very skillful in applying the beautiful designs on the face within a short span of time.

Make-up sessions are usually fun filled.Gossips and laughter are abundant and when the act begins we will be seeing him as an entirely different person - Theyyam.

Naturally made dyes are being used to make-up the Theyyam performers.Here few make-up artists are applying turmeric to a performer.Usually there are no dedicated artists for every individual preparation, a make-up artist sometimes becomes a Theyyam or can help with the other tasks specified to the Theyyam festivals.

Theyyam make-up happens inside a tent specially thatched with dried-up coconut leafs.The ornaments wore were made of wood and metal.A crew of three to five men can be seen around the theyyam performer fitting all the unique decorations and ornaments to him.This final phase of creating a god, is an interesting sight for the local people.

A Closeup of a Theyyam while he was calmly preparing himself mentally for the act that will go on till the next morning.

The emotions and silence of the devotees and their anxious faces full of curiosity and  suspense was like we were time traveling to another world.Suddenly the drums started to make the sound that can be heard to everyone in the next town, From the small tent, after hours of make-up, finally the Theyyam entered the arena with so much of power, acts, facial movements, and aggressive stances.The fire torches were lit, painting the whole scene in golden light.It was another world out there in this small temple in Payyanur, Kerala.

Drums play a keyrole in any Theyyam acts.The drummers will play to the dance of the Theyyams and the Theyyam will dance for the beats of the drums.They are so interconnected ,that in certain seasons if you hear drum sounds in Malabar region of Kerala then it is certain that a Theyyam play is going on somewhere.

A Theyyam performance usually being organized by a particular family in an area,and it remains their ancestral right.Huge number of devotees from the nearby places gather for the festival, and usually they stay throughout the night to watch various theyyam performances.

Verious styles of walking patterns are being followed by the performers, some can be dead slow and some can be very aggresive.Having a sharp sword can make the matter even worse for the devotees.However they all part of the spiritual journey of Theyyam festival.