Rituals & Resilience

AINT. Fire. Prayer. Silence. A man, painted in patterns, steps forward—not as himself, but as a god. This is Theyyam, where devotion and art merge, carrying the burdens of his people.

- DIYA MARIA GEORGE

Grief. Breath. Rhythm. Release. Women gather for Oppari, their voices rising, shaping sorrow into song. If Theyyam is the voice of gods, Oppari is the voice of grief. Grief does not arrive in silence here. It is shaped into poetry and passed through generations.

But beyond spectacle and song, what do these rituals truly do? The slow, deliberate steps of preparation, the shared act of surrender, the rhythm of repetition. To practice, to perform, to mourn together—these are not just traditions but tools, shaping sorrow, steadying hearts, stitching the unseen wounds of the mind. Healing, not just through medicine, but through movement, memory, and meaning. Who would have thought?

Cristine Legare, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, believes ritual is not just a relic of the past but an active force in well-being. The founder and director of the Center for Applied Cognitive Science (CACS), she studies the role of ritual in emotional resilience, public health, and behavioral change. Ahead of her lecture at Savera Hotel, Chennai, as part of the Sundram Fasteners Lecture Series, organized by The Banyan, she speaks to TNIE about how rituals and biomedicine can work hand-in-hand, ensuring that healing is not just clinical but also cultural. Edited excerpts:

In many cultures, rituals help communities cope with uncertainty and distress. How do you see rituals contributing to emotional resilience and psychological well-being?

Rituals, whether they involve prayer, meditation, or collective actions, are remarkably effective at reducing anxiety. They provide a sense of control and predictability, which is psychologically comforting. By offering socially sanctioned behaviors, rituals are authorized by the community, making their intentional practice a powerful tool for managing uncertainty.