Changing Man to God--Theyyam Ritual, Kerala

Theyyam (meaning God in Malyalam--the language spoken in Kerala) involves elaborate procedures to convert a common man, usually a lower caste dalit, to a reincarnation of Hindu Dieties.

This lenghty makeup session can last upto four or five hours. It involves, face painting, rubbing of turmeric on the chest, hooped straw skirts , coconut breasts, and huge towering head masks representing a Hindu Diety. This dress-up session usually begins in mid afternoon each day and is completed by late evening--in time for the dancer to begin his performance around the temple till early morning hours.

These series of photographs , showing the various steps involved in this elaborate process, were captured by me during 2014 and were taken around Kannuar in Northern Kerala.