In India, Navneet Jayakumar documented the ancient and exquisite customs of Theyyam—the huge

In the Malabar region of the Indian state of Kerala, an ancient Hindu ritual known as Theyyam exists in a series of ritual practices that date back hundreds or even thousands of years. This custom continues to this day through elaborate costumes and dances, with performers donning sacred garments and inviting spirits into their bodies to seek blessings. Theyyam season usually runs from October to May, with hundreds of performances taking place in the area, many concentrated in November and December.

“Theseyam reminds us that divinity exists within and around us,” says artist Navneet Jayakumar, whose lens practice revolves around ethnographic and surrealist explorations. “In an age of isolation, its wisdom has the power to ground us and heal a fractured world.”

Jayakumar, who now lives in London, grew up in Malabar, and Theyyam was an unforgettable part of his childhood. He returned to Kerala for the first time in 12 years during the ritual season and was struck by its strong and long-standing connection with the cultural heritage of the region. “Witnessing this ceremony reignited my curiosity about the broader spiritual and historical context of my culture, the role Taiyam once played in it, and how colonial narratives distorted my view of both,” he said in a statement.

Jayakumar Series Looking beyond colonialism Documenting this ancient practice through an ethnographic lens aims to highlight an event that is little known outside the region, mainly due to its oral tradition, which makes it challenging to research. “The lack of traceable records has been further compounded by centuries of colonial intervention, and I found very little information about the wider spiritual context of the ceremony,” he said.

Through the inherently visual medium of photography, Jayakumar set out to document Theyyam to compensate for its lack of recognition—especially as an indigenous tradition deemed “uncivilized” or “primitive” by European colonizers. His vibrant, radiant images depict performers in elaborate costumes and face paint.

Jayakumar’s images exhibited in different parts of Europe represent what he describes as “a symbolic victory for a culture that was destroyed and shunned as barbaric, but which lives on through me and many people back home.” For more information, visit Jayakumar’s website and Instagram.