If there was an art form where man and God becomes one, it has to be the Theyyam. And when I received an invite to visit Gateway Bekal I saw this first hand.
Located roughly an hour and twenty minutes from Mangalore, Gateway Bekal is a beautiful property located alongside the stunning Bekal River. My room was beautiful – a stunning cottage, complete with a small verandah area, a gate and also a sit-out overlooking the river. The resort itself has stunning architecture that merges contemporary and traditional forms to make for a chic aesthetic.
As I was here in December, I was lucky to be in the midst of a vibrant Theyyam season. The resort arranged a visit – they were clear they wanted me to see the real deal. This is an art form particularly practiced in Kannur and Kasaragod districts and dates to over a 1000 years ago.
What started as a simple tribal dance that included praying to natural deities to keep things peaceful and seek blessings has gradually it evolved into an elaborate theyyam form. Performed in some village temples, at ancestral home temples and sacred groves to please the deities, this is performed by some marginalized caste and tribes and usually by men only.
Read the full story that first appeared in The Week here:
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