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Analysing the botany of a ritual art

Staff Reporter

KANNUR: Botany of Theyyam? One would have been amazed at this juxtaposition of the ritual performance of Theyyam with the term botany if it had not been the title of a paper presented at the Kerala Science Congress being held here.

The paper, presented by R. Raji and K. Raveendran of the Department of Botany at Sir Syed College, Taliparamba, unveils the `harmonious mix' of science and sociology of Theyyam, a predominant cult in the North Malabar region that can be traced back to rituals of primitive society. The paper says that Theyyam is closely related to trees, agriculture and medicinal plants and Thottam Pattu, the song part of Theyyam, narrates rich diversity of local plants and animals as well as fruits and vegetables. The names of common Theyyams (folk deities) such as Ayiramthengil Bhagavathi, Elangikkal Bhagavathi and Checkippara Bhagavathi indicate their relationship with specific trees and plants. Medicinal food and vegetable crops planted in the remote past find scientific evidence in Korathi Thottam, it says.

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