The Ritual Traditions of Kerala: Exploring Sustainability in Practice

The Ritual Traditions of Kerala: Unravelling the Socio-cultural, Psychospiritual and

Philosophical History and Meanings

Meta-physical life of the people of Kerala is in tune with the physical life and environment,
and its expressive forms are manifested in the form of ritualistic performance that has
innumerable spatial and social texts. Kerala is a caste society, and each caste has its own
metaphysical world and, naturally, its own ritual traditions too. When the intensity and
spatial distribution are considered, the rituals related to Goddess Kali are the indigenous and
ancient Kerala worship system. The main popular ritualistic performances in Kerala are
Kolam tullal and Kaliyutu (South Travancore), Padayani (Central Travancore), Mudiyettu
(the ritual theatre in Central Kerala, recognized by UNESCO), Tira (South Malabar),
Ninabali and Teyyam (North Malabar). Thousands of different forms of rituals, short and
long in duration, are also still in prevalence among all castes throughout Kerala. The space
for these performances is either an open space (Sacred) or a shrine (Kavu).
These ritual traditions hold immense social and psycho-spiritual capital that is unexplored
scientifically enough. Though the aesthetic attributes of the rituals have been widely pursued,
the socio-cultural, psycho-spiritual, and philosophical history has not been explored and
disseminated.
As mentioned above, so many layers of meta-physical life and ritual traditions are still in
practice in Kerala, and all these layers are assimilated to each other and function as a
systematic whole. According to the ongoing socio-political and economic changes, the above-
mentioned systems of tradition are also undergoing tremendous changes, and most of them
are on the verge of extinction. As all of us know, in the present socio-cultural and political
scenario where all cultures dissolve into the global culture, the rich native ritual tradition of
Kerala has no other options.
A series of attempts to understand the meanings and practices of rituals and their impact on
the native community is essential to prevent extinction and ensure that the ideas generated
through serious studies shall be passed on to the new generation and to the rest of the world.
The current research proposes exploring Kerala's regional ritual tradition through
historical/archaeological, socio-cultural, psycho-spiritual, and philosophical lenses.
The following ritual forms are chosen, (justification of choice TBA)
1) Padayani
2) Mudiyettu
3) Kalamezhuthupattu
4) Thira
5) Theeyattu
Main Objectives of the Project
 To trace the history of the expressive forms of meta-physical life of the people of
Kerala with a specific focus on Padayani, Mudiyettu, Kalamezhuthupattu, Thira and
Theeyattu
 To conduct a systematic review of secondary date associated with Padayani,
Mudiyettu, Kalamezhuthupattu, Thira, and Theeyattu
 To explore the sociocultural meanings and relevance of the ritual traditions to the
performers as well as the community at large (including livelihood, inclusion, and
social capital)
 To explore the psychospiritual and philosophical meanings of the listed ritual
practices to the performers as well as the community at large
 To publish books on the research results which are beneficial to the society.
 To disseminate the relevant features of the concept of meta-physical life of Kerala in
relevant academic platforms in historical, sociological, and psychospiritual domains

Methodology
Historical methods?
An exploratory research design using a mixed methods approach is proposed in a phased
manner.
Phase 0: Analysis of secondary sources To conduct a systematic review of the existing
research on the selected ritual forms
Historical exploration (?)
Phase 1: Baseline assessment To identify participants and key information
sources
Approach: Quantitative/Qualitative- To understand the geographical extent of the
survey/participatory methods) ritual practice in Kerala
To trace the historical timeline of the rituals
Phase 2: Description To understand the lived experience of the
performers
Approach: Qualitative- Descriptive To understand the lived experience of the key
phenomenology, In-depth interview, key informants
informant interviews
Phase 3: Community perception To capture the perceptions of the community
about the ritual traditions as informed by phase2
Approach: Quantitative: Survey
Tentative Budget Plan

Human Resource
Research Assistant 37000* (5) 44.40,000

Field staff: 20,000*4*5months each 4,00,000

Consultancy (historical, statistical, psycho-
sociological, philosophical)
Travel 1,10,000
Library charges
Book purchase/Journal subscription
Audio recording devices 20,000

Article Processing/Publishing Charges 20,000

Data analysis software license

Incentives
Consumables
Grant Total