With the backdrop of select narratives of Teyyam, an intangible heritage, that forge connections among the landscape, mindscape and memoryscape, the paper delves into the entanglements of the zoomorphic and folk imagination, the topographical sensibilities, values and identities.
Paper long abstract
A spatio-temporal complex and a live tradition of the North Malabar, the ‘land of lore and looms’, tucked in the Southwest of India Teyyam and the oral narratives associated with it, totam, pave way for critical engagements on nature, storytelling and identity. Encompassing the sacred grove, its verdure, the folk witness an apotheosis in a shared sacred space, aided by oral narratives, to create a sense of collective belonging of identities. An intangible heritage and a cultural continuity, contributing towards the critique of power, Teyyam and the narratives rejuvenate the lore and the land, forging connections among the landscape, mindscape and memoryscape by coding beliefs and values that are eco-centric. With the backdrop of select narratives, the paper delves into the collusion of nature and culture presented in the complex. A multidisciplinary insight into the ecological and cultural dynamics of the narratives seeks to understand the construction of shared meaningful practices for prosperity that are in harmony with nature, reflecting the all-encompassing interdependence in the web of lives.