THEYAM

Nobody truly knows when and how, only the where: Kerala. Theyam is thought to have began at least a 1000 years ago. It is an ancient art form performance which has been past down from father to son within an incredibly strict caste system. However, it has been a rapidly dying art form as Indian society changes. Since the late 1970's the socialist government of Kerala has been trying to expose and encourage it among the locals, and seems to have had an effect.