In The Shadows
Nikon D810 175mm F/2.8 1/200s ISO220Manish Lakhani, PhotographerTheyyam Dance Festival
Theyyam festival, also known as Teyyam or Theyyattam, is a popular folk culture which is celebrated
majorly in the northern Malabar region of Kerala. Theyyam is also referred as a God where the people
of the region seek blessings from it. This culture dates back to almost 800 years and is associated not
only with Hinduism but also with Islam. Also called the “Dance of God”, it is a unique dance festival
where the dancers dress up and wear colorful make-ups and ornaments to imitate the mythological
figures of gods and demons. It is believed that there are as many as 400 forms of Theyyam, each
with their own unique style, music, choreography, make-up, costumes, etc. This festival showcases
performances such as drama, music and mime, celebrated from north Malabar to south Malabar.
This cultural festival is one of the most beautiful traditional festival in Kerala. Being a winter festival
running from December to April annually, it is a must place to be for cultural and photo enthusiasts.