Kerala teenager's theyyam performance sets internet ablaze

THE video and photos of a 14-year-old, who took on the role of theechamundi theyyam also known as ottakkolam-exhausted from his performance, in which he had to jump into a bonfire and serve holy ash with his right hand, and resting his head on the bamboo poles of a makeshift shelter, have gone viral and divided society and the online space.

- M A RAJEEV KUMAR

On the second day of the Chirakkal Chamundi Kottam perumkaliyattam, Abhiram, son of Murali Panickar, a wellknown local theyyam performer, had thrown himself into the bonfire, known as meleri, 101 times, leaving the devotees thronging the venue in a state of disbelief. Though he would be dragged out of the bonfire by two persons in charge of assisting the theyyam, the act had visibly exhausted the boy. Usually, theechamundi is performed by senior members of the Malaya community, who hold the right to perform the theyyam.