Redemption ~ Annual festival of Kodungalloor Bhagavathy Temple

These photographs taken at Kodungallur Temple, Kerala during the annual “Bharani” festival. Thousands of oracles, both men and women from different tribes come there wielding swords, clad in red costumes, singing and going around the temple. Legend is that Hindu Goddess Kaali after defeating and Killing Darikan (an immensely powerful and arrogant demon) was still angry. To make her feel better,  “Bhoothaganas”- her soldiers...

മാൻ‌ചേൽ മിഴിയാളേ ~ Kalyana sougandhikam Kathakali

മാൻ‌ചേൽ മിഴിയാളേ നിന്നാല്‍ വാഞ്ഛിതങ്ങളായീടുന്നോ- രഞ്ചിതസൌെഗന്ധികങ്ങള്‍ അഞ്ചാതെകൊണ്ടന്നീടാം Bhima, the son of wind god sets out in search of Kalyanasougandhikam, a rare flower as requested by his wife Panchali. Kalyanasougandhikam, a chapter from the epic Mahabharata, depicting the travails of Bheema who goes in search of Sougandhika flowers at the behest of his beloved wife Panchali. On the way, he meets his half-brother Hanuman and the...

Dance of god

Theyyam is a traditional art form of Kerala which incorporates dance, music and enshrines the fundamentals of ancient tribal cultures which attached great importance to the worship of heroes and the spirits of ancestors.  The staging area of Theyyam is known as Kaavu. Theyyam is also performed at home (Tharavadu) and fields. Theyyam’ performers belong to one of the Hindu communities (Malayan, Vannan, Velan etc.)....