This is a ritual art Kerala (India)

1. THEYYAM

2. THAEYYAM A RITUAL ART OF KERALA The Photos and contents are taken from different web sites thankachan Song included in this presentation is not Theyyam Thottam (Song)

7. Theyyam is a sect in which old heroes are sanctified and worshipped as the guardians of villages and homes. Yet, it includes a complex universe centered on the belief that a man can—after suitable mental, physical and spiritual preliminaries—don the costume of a particular deity and then become that deity

9. The performer of Theyyam gets himself completely into the artistic rhythm. Even when the dancer breaks coconut against his forehead, cuts his forehead with the sword, or wears red-hot iron chain on his body as a mark of self-torture, he never goes out of rhythm.

11. The person who performs Theyyam while delivering such metaphysical experiences and involves himself completely into the act traverses through three different stages.

13. The first stage is one kind of impersonation by decorating himself with creative paintings and coverings made up of natural materials

15. The second stage helps him to involve a mental state of flight to mystic heights

16. The last stage is the accomplishments of the dancer submerged fully into the artistic rhythm of acting the story

19. The unique quality of Theyyam is that its deities can manifest themselves in the bodies of empowered men as dancer-performers, and appear before their devotees while interacting with them by answering questions, mocking the pompous, ridiculing the vain, and humiliating the arrogant

20. In the worship of certain Teyyams, intoxicant liquor as an offering is not forbidden. Kuttichattan, Khantakarnam are among the deities of the tamasic (dark group) for whom liquor is an inevitable item. The practitioners of such Teyyams belongs to the Saktiyas for whom liquor forms an important ingredient of worship in their routine religious practices

21. To other god heads like 'Daivattar', liquor is strictly prohibited and the artists who impersonate such powers also regard liquor as taboo in their lives.

24. The performer belongs to lower caste like Mannan, Velan and Malayan communities

25. The landlords and chieftains encouraged these artists and introduced many improvements by initiating new themes into its fold and classified them to appropriate communities for their propagation .

26. It is interesting to note that the upper class people receive blessings from them while they perform Theyyam

27. The headgear or the mask made of materials from nature and painted with natural colours in Teyyam assumes a grotesque and archetypal image with the blending of highly artistic and emotive display

28. The dancer has to prepare his mind and body to entertain the Teyyam within himself. During the period of austerity, which is prerequisite for any ritualistic art, the dancer concentrates on his favourite deity with extreme devotion.

30. Teyyam is a ritualistic dance with its rare and grotesque make-up and costume, lively foot work, gymnastic fervour and ritualistic vitality

31. The most sacred and powerful element of the costume, the mudi or headdress, is put on once the artist has been seated on a sacred stool in front of the sanctum

32. After this comes the actual moment of "becoming" the deity, the moment of crossing the line, as he stares into a small hand-held mirror

34. It is at this point that, almost imperceptibly, he slips into another state of being, his eyes widening as they focus not on his own reflection, but on the enigmatic features of a divine being

35. The wearing of spectacular costume further enhances the illusion of becoming a divine being

36. The Face Makeup with Natural colors