Theyyam
Theyyam Rituals, South India
Theyyam is a religious ritual which dates back to pre-Hindu eras in southern India. There are hundreds of different Theyyam rituals, often unique to the village, community or family which sponsors any given performance. Elaborately costumed performers, accompanied by drummers and sometimes other musicians and characters, dance themselves into a trance-like state. Through the ritual, the performers become the gods that they portray for a brief time, and after their performance will bless the devotees and hear their prayers.
