The Travel Agent
Our land agent is Renaissance & Rezein India, a Delhi-based travel agent established in 1995.

A Note On Our Hotel Accommodations:
We shall be staying in both large and small hotels, some of which are luxury resorts and others that are more modest. All rooms will have private bathrooms. One night will be spent on a houseboat/rice barge(s). Rooms are cabin-sized but comfortable and also have en-suite bathrooms.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY
I assume no responsibility for accidents or injury to individuals participating in the Theyyams of Malabar photo expedition. You will be requested to read, accept and sign an agreement which releases me from any responsibility of liability in the event of any of the situations mentioned below.

I also assume no responsibility if a traveler is refused entry into a country for any reason. It is the traveler's sole responsibility to ensure all travel documents are valid and effective. A passport, valid for six months after the intended date of return is required in many cases for travel overseas. Some countries may require visas for US or non-US citizens. Please check with the corresponding consulates prior to leaving. This is the traveler's responsibility.

I cannot assume any liability whatsoever for injury, sickness, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to person or property due to an act of negligence of or default of any travel agent, hotel, carrier, restaurant, company, airline, or person rendering any of the services included in Theyyams of Malabar photo expedition, or by act of God, act of war or terrorism. Further, no responsibilities are accepted for any damage, changes or delays due to sickness, pilferage, labor disputes, machinery breakdown, quarantine, government restraints, weather or other causes beyond my personal control. No responsibility is accepted for any additional expense, omissions and schedule changes, forced stopovers, rerouting or acts of any governments or authority. I reserve the right to decline or accept any person as a member of any tour or to cancel or alter the tour without notice. It is also the responsibility of the traveler to keep informed on deposit and payment date requirements. It is highly recommended that all individuals obtain adequate travel insurance.

This photo-expedition is organized and led by Tewfic El-Sawy (aka The Travel Photographer), and is specifically structured and timed to allow its members to photograph and document some of the most spectacular ritualistic dances of Northern Kerala, called Theyyam. We will travel to the Malabar region of south India, and along with Malabari villagers, attend the Theyyam performances in local temples. Not only will we attend the specific Theyyam rituals scheduled from February 22 to 25, but we shall also encounter smaller Theyyam rituals deep in the forests of Northern Kerala.

Theyyam is a form of art worship, more like folk-dance oriented rituals, most popular in north Malabar, Kerala (India). These ancient rituals have their set of traditional costumes and mythological associations, harking back to thousands of years to an era before Brahmanical Hinduism spread to peninsular India.

The Theyyam folk-dance oriented rituals usually last for 3 days, and are generally performed in Kaavus or temples. The performances follow a sequence which starts with drum-beats, followed by specific dances and pujas. The costumes and masks used by Theyyam performers are intensely colorful, and are made of bamboo splices and red cloth. The performers' bodies are painted with locally made concoctions. The performers are called Theyyams and enter into a frenzied state, which allows the deities to inhabit their bodies. At that point, the devotees approach the Theyyams and request their blessings.