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Kerala { 293 images } Created 23 Jun 2013

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  • Theyyam is the ancient hindu ritual of North Malabar in Kerala in which empowered men after suitable preparations become deities. It's the living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions and a socio-religious ceremony which attributes great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. <br />
<br />
Wearing outstanding costumes and headdresses and with their human faces hidden behind fabulous masks the chosen men make the final change into the deities. When the line is crossed, comes the time for devotees to pray and speak to the deities.
    Theyyam_Kerala_India, DSC_5842.jpg
  • India, Kochi. Traders of Bazaar Road.<br />
<br />
Kochi was known for a long time as the main centrum of Indian spice trade. Although today it's only a shadow of its former glory, walking on Bazaar Road in Mattancherry still it's possible to feel its atmosphere, meet the traders of famous  specialities of Kerala, visit old Indian ginger factory  and smell the Indian spices.
    India_Kerala_Kochi_traders, DSC_3023.jpg
  • India, Kerala. Portrait of a tea picker from Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Tea picker from Munna...jpg
  • Kathakali  (the word "kathakali" literally means "Story-Play") is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, characteristic for  the south Indian state of Kerala. It has a long tradition dating back to the 17th century.  <br />
<br />
It is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on religious and nature themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. <br />
<br />
Kathakali is widely recognizable for its distinctive costumes and sophisticated make up. Depending on a character the make up can be predominantly green (fhe faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama etc.), green slashed with red marks on the cheeks (characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana) or predominantly red (extremely angry characters). All the make up's  are made from natural materials: the white one is made from rice flour, the red from Vermillion and the black is made from sook. <br />
<br />
The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story. These hand gestures, known as mudra, are common through out much of classical Indian dance. The body movements and footwork are very rigourous. To attain such a high level of of flexibility and muscle control required for this art, a Kathakali dancer needs years of a strenuous training special body massages.<br />
<br />
Although a traditional Kathakali performance is a major social event, which usually starts at dusk and lasts for the whole night culminating at the dawn hour, when Good finally conquers Evil, today sometimes it is modified for smaller urban audiences.
    India, Kerala. Kathakali dancer, DSC...jpg
  • Kathakali  (the word "kathakali" literally means "Story-Play") is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, characteristic for  the south Indian state of Kerala. It has a long tradition dating back to the 17th century.  <br />
<br />
It is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on religious and nature themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. <br />
<br />
Kathakali is widely recognizable for its distinctive costumes and sophisticated make up. Depending on a character the make up can be predominantly green (fhe faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama etc.), green slashed with red marks on the cheeks (characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana) or predominantly red (extremely angry characters). All the make up's  are made from natural materials: the white one is made from rice flour, the red from Vermillion and the black is made from sook. <br />
<br />
The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story. These hand gestures, known as mudra, are common through out much of classical Indian dance. The body movements and footwork are very rigourous. To attain such a high level of of flexibility and muscle control required for this art, a Kathakali dancer needs years of a strenuous training special body massages.<br />
<br />
Although a traditional Kathakali performance is a major social event, which usually starts at dusk and lasts for the whole night culminating at the dawn hour, when Good finally conquers Evil, today sometimes it is modified for smaller urban audiences.
    India, Kerala. Kathakali dancer, DSC...jpg
  • India, Kerala. Beautiful tea pickers' village situated among tea plantations of Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Tea pickers' village,...jpg
  • Kathakali  (the word "kathakali" literally means "Story-Play") is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, characteristic for  the south Indian state of Kerala. It has a long tradition dating back to the 17th century.  <br />
<br />
It is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on religious and nature themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. <br />
<br />
Kathakali is widely recognizable for its distinctive costumes and sophisticated make up. Depending on a character the make up can be predominantly green (fhe faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama etc.), green slashed with red marks on the cheeks (characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana) or predominantly red (extremely angry characters). All the make up's  are made from natural materials: the white one is made from rice flour, the red from Vermillion and the black is made from sook. <br />
<br />
The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story. These hand gestures, known as mudra, are common through out much of classical Indian dance. The body movements and footwork are very rigourous. To attain such a high level of of flexibility and muscle control required for this art, a Kathakali dancer needs years of a strenuous training special body massages.<br />
<br />
Although a traditional Kathakali performance is a major social event, which usually starts at dusk and lasts for the whole night culminating at the dawn hour, when Good finally conquers Evil, today sometimes it is modified for smaller urban audiences.
    India, Kerala. Kathakali dancer, DSC...jpg
  • Spices from Kochi.<br />
<br />
Kochi was known for a long time as the main centrum of Indian spice trade. Although today it's only a shadow of its former glory, walking on Bazaar Road in Mattancherry still it's possible to feel its atmosphere, meet the traders of famous  specialities of Kerala, visit old Indian ginger factory  and smell the Indian spices.
    India_Kerala_Kochi_spices, DSC_2865.jpg
  • India, Kerala. Beautiful misty tea plantations of Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Tea plantations of Mu...jpg
  • Theyyam is the ancient hindu ritual of North Malabar in Kerala in which empowered men after suitable preparations become deities. It's the living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions and a socio-religious ceremony which attributes great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. <br />
<br />
Wearing outstanding costumes and headdresses and with their human faces hidden behind fabulous masks the chosen men make the final change into the deities. When the line is crossed, comes the time for devotees to pray and speak to the deities.
    Theyyam_Kerala,_India, DSC_5896.jpg
  • India, Kerala. Beautiful young Tamil woman from tea pickers' village near Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Portrait from tea pic...jpg
  • Kathakali  (the word "kathakali" literally means "Story-Play") is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, characteristic for  the south Indian state of Kerala. It has a long tradition dating back to the 17th century.  <br />
<br />
It is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on religious and nature themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. <br />
<br />
Kathakali is widely recognizable for its distinctive costumes and sophisticated make up. Depending on a character the make up can be predominantly green (fhe faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama etc.), green slashed with red marks on the cheeks (characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana) or predominantly red (extremely angry characters). All the make up's  are made from natural materials: the white one is made from rice flour, the red from Vermillion and the black is made from sook. <br />
<br />
The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story. These hand gestures, known as mudra, are common through out much of classical Indian dance. The body movements and footwork are very rigourous. To attain such a high level of of flexibility and muscle control required for this art, a Kathakali dancer needs years of a strenuous training special body massages.<br />
<br />
Although a traditional Kathakali performance is a major social event, which usually starts at dusk and lasts for the whole night culminating at the dawn hour, when Good finally conquers Evil, today sometimes it is modified for smaller urban audiences.
    India, Kerala. Kathakali dancer, DSC...jpg
  • Theyyam is the ancient hindu ritual of North Malabar in Kerala in which empowered men after suitable preparations become deities. It's the living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions and a socio-religious ceremony which attributes great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. <br />
<br />
Wearing outstanding costumes and headdresses and with their human faces hidden behind fabulous masks the chosen men make the final change into the deities. When the line is crossed, comes the time for devotees to pray and speak to the deities.
    India_Kerala_Theyyam, DSC_5934.jpg
  • India, Kerala. Tea pickers on theirs way to work in beautiful tea plantations of Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Tea pickers from Munn...jpg
  • Kerala backwaters is one of the main attractions of this small southern state of India. This is a system of canals, rivers and lakes situated parallel to the Malabar Coast with its unique ecosystem and small towns and villages built in the area.<br />
<br />
One of the attractions of Kerala backwaters is renting a houseboat (called kettuvalam) for a trip around.
    India_Kerala_backwaters, DSC_4610.jpg
  • Theyyam is the ancient hindu ritual of North Malabar in Kerala in which empowered men after suitable preparations become deities. It's the living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions and a socio-religious ceremony which attributes great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. <br />
<br />
Wearing outstanding costumes and headdresses and with their human faces hidden behind fabulous masks the chosen men make the final change into the deities. When the line is crossed, comes the time for devotees to pray and speak to the deities.
    India_Kerala_Theyyam, DSC_5621.jpg
  • Kathakali  (the word "kathakali" literally means "Story-Play") is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, characteristic for  the south Indian state of Kerala. It has a long tradition dating back to the 17th century.  <br />
<br />
It is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on religious and nature themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. <br />
<br />
Kathakali is widely recognizable for its distinctive costumes and sophisticated make up. Depending on a character the make up can be predominantly green (fhe faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama etc.), green slashed with red marks on the cheeks (characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana) or predominantly red (extremely angry characters). All the make up's  are made from natural materials: the white one is made from rice flour, the red from Vermillion and the black is made from sook. <br />
<br />
The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story. These hand gestures, known as mudra, are common through out much of classical Indian dance. The body movements and footwork are very rigourous. To attain such a high level of of flexibility and muscle control required for this art, a Kathakali dancer needs years of a strenuous training special body massages.<br />
<br />
Although a traditional Kathakali performance is a major social event, which usually starts at dusk and lasts for the whole night culminating at the dawn hour, when Good finally conquers Evil, today sometimes it is modified for smaller urban audiences.
    India, Kerala. Kathakali dancer, DSC...jpg
  • India, Kerala. Portrait of a tea picker from Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Tea picker from Munna...jpg
  • Kathakali  (the word "kathakali" literally means "Story-Play") is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, characteristic for  the south Indian state of Kerala. It has a long tradition dating back to the 17th century.  <br />
<br />
It is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on religious and nature themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. <br />
<br />
Kathakali is widely recognizable for its distinctive costumes and sophisticated make up. Depending on a character the make up can be predominantly green (fhe faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama etc.), green slashed with red marks on the cheeks (characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana) or predominantly red (extremely angry characters). All the make up's  are made from natural materials: the white one is made from rice flour, the red from Vermillion and the black is made from sook. <br />
<br />
The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story. These hand gestures, known as mudra, are common through out much of classical Indian dance. The body movements and footwork are very rigourous. To attain such a high level of of flexibility and muscle control required for this art, a Kathakali dancer needs years of a strenuous training special body massages.<br />
<br />
Although a traditional Kathakali performance is a major social event, which usually starts at dusk and lasts for the whole night culminating at the dawn hour, when Good finally conquers Evil, today sometimes it is modified for smaller urban audiences.
    India, Kerala. Kathakali dancer, DSC...jpg
  • India, Kerala. Tea pickers coming back home in a village situated among tea plantations of Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Tea pickers' village,...jpg
  • Kerala backwaters is one of the main attractions of this small southern state of India. This is a system of canals, rivers and lakes situated parallel to the Malabar Coast with its unique ecosystem and small towns and villages built in the area.<br />
<br />
One of the attractions of Kerala backwaters is renting a houseboat (called kettuvalam) for a trip around.
    India_Kerala_backwaters, DSC_4940.jpg
  • Theyyam is the ancient hindu ritual of North Malabar in Kerala in which empowered men after suitable preparations become deities. It's the living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions and a socio-religious ceremony which attributes great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. <br />
<br />
Wearing outstanding costumes and headdresses and with their human faces hidden behind fabulous masks the chosen men make the final change into the deities. When the line is crossed, comes the time for devotees to pray and speak to the deities.
    India_Kerala_Theyyam, DSC_5848.jpg
  • India, Kochi. Work at the ginger factory.<br />
<br />
Kochi was known for a long time as the main centrum of Indian spice trade. Although today it's only a shadow of its former glory, walking on Bazaar Road in Mattancherry still it's possible to feel its atmosphere, meet the traders of famous  specialities of Kerala, visit old Indian ginger factory  and smell the Indian spices.
    India_Kerala_Kochi_ginger_factory, D...jpg
  • India, Kerala. Beautiful misty tea plantations of Munnar.
    India, Kerala. Tea plantations of Mu...jpg
  • Kathakali  (the word "kathakali" literally means "Story-Play") is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, characteristic for  the south Indian state of Kerala. It has a long tradition dating back to the 17th century.  <br />
<br />
It is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on religious and nature themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. <br />
<br />
Kathakali is widely recognizable for its distinctive costumes and sophisticated make up. Depending on a character the make up can be predominantly green (fhe faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama etc.), green slashed with red marks on the cheeks (characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana) or predominantly red (extremely angry characters). All the make up's  are made from natural materials: the white one is made from rice flour, the red from Vermillion and the black is made from sook. <br />
<br />
The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story. These hand gestures, known as mudra, are common through out much of classical Indian dance. The body movements and footwork are very rigourous. To attain such a high level of of flexibility and muscle control required for this art, a Kathakali dancer needs years of a strenuous training special body massages.<br />
<br />
Although a traditional Kathakali performance is a major social event, which usually starts at dusk and lasts for the whole night culminating at the dawn hour, when Good finally conquers Evil, today sometimes it is modified for smaller urban audiences.
    India, Kerala. Kathakali dancer, DSC...jpg
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