Yet Untitled 146 - The Gods, they’re here!

Photos and words from a Theyyam

Dearest Yet Untitler,

It’s no coincidence that I’m writing about Gods - because this week I visited God’s Own Country. Over there, I was fortunate enough to witness a Theyyam. In it, Gods pranced about in very elaborate attire, enacting a theatre loaded with meaning and politics. It was an experience I’m unlikely to forget, the kind that I know will influence my thoughts from here on.

As I watched the torchlit performances through the darkest hours of night into the dawn, the poem you’ll read below started forming in my head as I pranced about, struggling to keep my mundu from falling, entranced and taking photograph after photograph. There were moments when I felt like I was in a Miyazaki film.

You’ll see some of those photos below too.

Welcome to the latest crop of new Yet Untitlers! Veteran YU-ers, always well met!

Here goes:

The Gods, They’re here!

In fact, they never left. 
Trapped in a dream with 
Us, their lesser selves,
The Gods: here they dwell!
Reconciled to us, their wretched lot. 

Naga Kanyaka lights up the night. Theyyam Performance, Kannur. c. 2025

The Gods, they’re here!
Just like us, they long for heaven
Just like us, enmeshed in hell.
The Gods, they’re here! 
Snake-like, serpentine 
The Gods look anything but divine.
Clothed in leaves, bark and forest bits, 
Their skin singed by the fires we lit.

Pottan Devan emerges from the flames. Theyyam performance. Kannur, c. 2025

The Gods: 
Who on flaming embers sit.
As the flames scorch them,
The laugh and they bless.
Despite their burns, 
Despite our mess. 

Bhairavan. Theyyam performance. Kannur, c. 2025

The Gods -
They dance, drunken.  
Their silver eyes, sunken.
Their red feet, hurting.
Their strong hearts, burning.
They bless us. Despite. 
Every day. Every night. 

Pottan Devan blessing Meera. Theyyam performance, Kannur, c. 2025

The Gods are bound to us
By mutual blood. 
The Gods are our kin 
Both out there, and within.
Our bond is of blood.
Blood binds the Gods to us.
Blood squelches in the mud.

Bhairavan walks away. Theyyam performance, Kannur, c. 2025

The Gods know this 
When they swirl.
Whirling tornados, 
The Gods unfurl
Their wish for us
And our world.

The mischievous Gulikan whirling, kids screaming. Theyyam performance, Kannur, c. 2025

Behold, 
There's a God in the tree.
Let's find the prayer
That will set him free.

Gulikan up on a tree. Theyyam performance, Kannur, c. 2025

Thanks for listening!

Lots of love,

V

P.S:

And, I always get a kick out of hearing from you: