Pillai Theeni Theyyam: On the raised earthen platform, the demon bows over the seated "pregnant" woman, while holding a flapping white chicken in his right hand above the pregnant woman’s head. His skirt of split palm leaves reaches almost to the ground, and flames no longer burn in his split palm leaf headdress. He is no longer restrained by ritualists from attacking the pregnant woman, as he has accepted their offering of a white chicken, instead of the unborn child’s fetus. He The woman sits behind a bunch of areca blossoms held in front of her abdomen. A Pulluvan ritualist pours offerings over her head, perhaps to protect her from the demon. Ceṇḍa (chenda) vertical drums and smaller viku ceṇḍa drums and cymbal players play standing to her right on the raised earthen platform. Spectators stand in front of the opening of the backstage curtain. The demon is played by the Malayan dancer and teacher P.K. Panicker (Pallipurattu House, Kizhara PO, Cannanore. Malayan and Panan communities).
An aṅkakkāran (fighter) character dancing with the light of two torches and the nilavilakku (lamp) behind him. Thirayāṭṭam, "colorful dance," is a divine ritual dance-drama of the South Malabar district in Kerala state that blends dance, drama, songs, instrumental music, masking, and facial and bodily makeup.
Pulluvan sarpam thullal enactment at the Kalliasseri Theyyam Festival. A Pulluvan husband, Pulluvati wife, and two Pulluvan children perform a trance medium’s dance (thullal: vibration, dance), scattering the colored powders with their feet. Pulluvan man enacts trance possession as his body writhes over the colored powders, mixing them and merging himself with the serpent deity
An aṅkakkāran (fighter) character, seen from the side, dances behind a table with a nilavilakku (lamp). There are small flames on the ground. Thirayāṭṭam, "colorful dance," is a divine ritual dance-drama of the South Malabar district in Kerala state that blends dance, drama, songs, instrumental music, masking, and facial and bodily makeup.
This ceremony is a puja to introduce the velikkala, a ritual to help a woman conceive. The image shows a moment during a Velikkala exorcism; a kalam figure puts his arms around the head and neck of two young schoolgirls standing beside him; the 5th item of the performance. (Performed by Panayi Kumaran and party of the Pulayar community. Panan Kandy, Kokkalur P.O. Calicut District, Kerala).
Rakteswari Theyyam: The demon transforms into Rakteswari (Rakteshwari, Rikteswari). The Mother Goddess: Because the Bhagavati has been satisfied by the offering of a chicken symbolizing the human child fetus, she appears here in a form with a large headdress and grass (split palm frond) skirt, dancing joyfully to bless the audience. The maddaḷam and ceṇḍa (chenda) drummers (left) play the rhythms for Rakteswari’s fierce performance.
Rakteswari Theyyam: The demon transforms into Rakteswari (Rakteshwari, Rikteswari). The Mother Goddess: Because the Bhagavati has been satisfied by the offering of a chicken symbolizing the human child fetus, she appears here in a form with a large headdress and grass (split palm frond) skirt, dancing joyfully to bless the audience. Profile view of Goddess screaming fearfully. Male audience members watch intently.
Maritheyyam (Mari Theyyam,) is an art form with ritual dance and ritual song about the myth of Maritheyyam, a kind of theyyam. It is performed in the Kannur District of Kerala during Malayalam month of "Karadakam" "monsoon season" (July-August) for the purpose of getting rid of the evil spirits by sweeping them out to the ocean. Traditionally there are six figures of gods. In this performance there are four figures of gods. Kalivan (Kaliyan) is a male kalam with a round headdress, face paint and skirt made from kuruthola (coconut palm leaves). The other three wear "haystack" costumes made from coconut palm leaves: Kalicci (Kalichi, Marikkalichi -- wife of Kaliyan, with face paint and a kuruthola headdress), Māriguḷikan (Māri Gulikan) (wears a mask and kuruthola headdress) and Mārippoṭṭan (wears a mask and a kuruthola headdress). The gods dance, accompanied by four musicians who sing; three play drums, including a tudi hourglass drum, and one plays a chengila (gong). Performed by N. Kanjan Pujari and party.
