War of The Gods
I am welcoming you all to a different experience. Some of you may have already seen or experienced it. But those who haven't , stay tuned to witness the clash of the titans!
First part : War of Gods : Lets prepare for The war | Theyyam begins
Second part : War of the Gods : Preparing for the war | Vali appears
Third part : War of the Gods : Here Comes the Opponent | Sugriva Appears
Fourth Part : War of Gods : The Provocation
Final Part : War of Gods : Beginning of the End | Sword Fight
This story is taken from Hindu epic Ramayana. And the war is between Vali and Sugreeva. Go through the photo essay of Theyyam series.
All pictures are taken by Trablogger. Please contact for approval, if you would like to use them for any purpose
The War of the Gods series documents a Theyyam performance built around the Ramayana story of the conflict between Vali and Sugriva. I divided the event into chapters because the action develops in stages: preparation, the appearance of each character, provocation and the final fight. The structure helps the photographs function as a narrative rather than a collection of colourful images.
Theyyam is a ritual tradition associated especially with North Malabar. Its visual power comes from far more than costume alone. Preparation, invocation, music, makeup, body painting, headgear, movement and the relationship between performer and community all contribute to the experience. The performer is not simply acting on a conventional theatre stage; the ritual takes place within a sacred and social setting.
The five internal links above form the reading order. The first chapter establishes the setting. Vali then appears, followed by Sugriva. When the two meet, gesture and provocation build the tension before the sequence reaches the sword fight. Each chapter retains its original photographs and captions so readers can follow the event as it unfolded.
This landing page is intentionally different from the individual chapters. Its purpose is to provide context, navigation and a respectful introduction. Readers interested in photographic technique can watch how distance, crowd placement, movement and changing expressions affect each frame. Readers interested in the story can follow the linked sequence without having to search the archive.
These posts document one performance through a traveller’s camera. They are not a complete guide to Theyyam, which includes many deities, characters, communities and local practices. I have avoided presenting a single photographed event as if it represented every form of the tradition.
What the series can offer is careful observation: the visual preparation of the ritual space, the extraordinary craft of costume and makeup, the energy of the performers and the involvement of the people gathered around them.
