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| Theyyam
A ritual dance performed in temples by appointed
people in fulfillment of vows of devotees. Theyyam is the corrupted
form of the word Daivam meaning the God. It is purported to be the
dance by the Goddess Herself. The dancers are men in feminine attire
wearing colourful costumes made usually of palm leaves, cloth and
brass jewellery, ferocious masks and big head gear, often extending
up to forty feet in height.
The pace of the dance is set to the beating
of Chenda (drum). The artiste invested by the goddess in his person
falls in a trance, dances deliriously to the mounting tempo and
conveys, as an oracle, the goddess's acceptance of the vow and blessings
or otherwise. |
