Photo credit:  Dileep Narayanan

Theyyam is one of the most popular ritualistic dances of Kerala. Of the variety of performing arts, most have roots in folk tradition and are often related to religious rituals and mythological stories.  Theyyam is a devotional performance with surrealistic representations of the divine.

The performers often take on the role of one deity and continue to perform the character for years.

Photo credit: Dileep Narayanan