THEYYAM:

THE GOD WITHIN

The Theyyam is an ancient ritual theatre performance in the North Malabar region of Kerala. It finds its roots in Goddess cults, their mythologies and the phenomena of trance possession where the deity is said to `inhabit' the body of the performer for the duration of the performance. This process of `inhabiting' begins with sacred purificatory rituals and vows of abstinence. It goes on to include the stages of make up, costume, adornment and crowning with a dramatic headpiece and ends with the `mukhadarshnam', the final stage of take over before the Theyyam performance begins. Devotees consider the performer an embodiment of the God, and the body, a moving temple.  (Extended Album)