Wednesday Wanderings: The Baali Theyyam
I know it’s Monday and not Wednesday, but today’s story isn’t finished yet, and NO ONE’S PERFECT GET OFF MY LAWN.
For this Wednesday Monday Wandering, here’s a video of the Baali Theyyam in Kuruva, India. The Theyyam dancer dresses in elaborate costumes that represent the deity or spirit he is trying to summon. He then dances into a trance, allowing the spirit to enter his body and possess him. He then gives blessings to the villagers, before a priest appears to exorcise the deity back out of the theyyam.
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To hear the full story of the Theyyam, check out Gods Amongst Men.
For more Theyyam photos, check out the Photo Travelogue The South of India.
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Ah oh, the video won’t play for me. It says “private”. Maybe I just can’t watch it on my phone??. I look forward to seeing this dance. I loved your blog post about the event.
Thanks for telling me! See, I kind of got my hands on some illegal, smuggled beer last night when I posted this, and I haven’t really had alcohol in over two months, so I was all sorts of failure… Should be working now(?). Let me know!
Yes, Steve, the video is working now!
I think I’m more worried about your health. It sounds like you are not faring too well in Afghanistan (in more ways than one). I assume you are working up the courage to tell us about your recent misadventure(s). – Be Blessed!
Haha I’m okay, I appreciate your concern! I assume you’re referencing my gastro-related tweet? I’m not in Afghanistan, I’m just flirting with the border. Most all the people here are Afghani refugees, and thus: Afghani food. And thus: frantic bathroom sprints. I’m getting through it now, by the goodwill of Ciprofloxacin.
And I have MANY misadventures to share, though for legal and safety reasons, a couple of them I won’t have the courage to publish here. Orrrr at the very least until I’ve arrived in China.
Hopefully, I’ll have a new story up by tomorrow…
As always, thanks for words!
-Steve
Hi there. Can’t watch the vid on my computer either.
Very cool post!
Thanks! I was filming it just so that I’d remember–if I knew I’d be posting it, it would probably be a bit more coherent and a little less ‘Cloverfield.’ Thanks for watching!
Great post Steve !! Love it
You had me at “Get off my lawn!”
The video worked for me. Very cool indeed!