Category: Kerala

Kerala, Photography

It’s Theyyam time, again …

Sreejith Nair

You can view Theyyam from different dimensions, such as, art, folklore, culture, myth etc;

But, one thing most of us fail to see is the human endurance perspective.

To me, Theyyam is one of the ‘Physically most demanding’ ritualistic folk art.

I felt it again, last day, when I watched a Theyyam named ‘Ilamkolam’ performed near my home.

A few images here,

Kerala, Photography

Kochi Muziris Biennale 2018

Sreejith Nair

Kochi Muziris Biennale is the biggest contemporary art festival in Asia and I am always overwhelmed with the scale, number and quality of the installations.

Let me share a few images, I managed to capture during my quick last day visit to the venue.

I don’t think, I can make any comment on the art work here, but, this is something to experience, not like the way I have done it, but taking time, at least a couple of days 🙂

Waiting for the next edition in 2020…

Kerala, Photography

Poorotsavam: A Unique Festival in North Kerala

Sreejith Nair

Summer months in North Kerala is the time of festivals. If you are ready to brave the hot and humid conditions, ready to burn midnight oil, you will be rewarded with the best of experiences …

Poorotsavam is yet another unique festival celebrated in Northern Kerala to invoke the blessings of lord Kamadeva (Cupid) by young girls.

It’s a nine day festival and on the last day, a flower carpet is created with locally collected flowers. Velichappad or Pothi, a possessed one, visits houses and blesses devotees.

There are many other rituals and dance forms associated with Pooram (Poorotsavam) during all these days and the ambience is filled with sounds, lights and the fragrance of flowers…

Have a look at some of the images from this festival and thank you for your time 🙂

Kerala, Photography

The Story Behind: Vishnumurthy Thottam

Sreejith Nair

I have countless posts on Theyyams here, but none on the ‘Thottam Pattu’…

Each Theyyam performance is preceded by it’s Thottam, where the theyyam artist, with minimal make up, recites the story of theyyam.

Vishnumurthy theyyam is one of the most important and common theyyam performed as it’s based on lord Vishnu’s fourth avatar (incarnation), Narasimha.

The performance is so intense that, we get the true intensity of violence as the story unfolds.

The story is enacted on the following day without any recitation but with the rhythmic drum beats manipulating each step of the theyyam …