Beyond Folk Heritage: Analysing Theyyam and Padayani as Indigenous Performance Texts in Contemporary Kerala

<title>Abstract</title> <p>The National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems into education, while the Viksit Bharat initiative recognizes cultural advancement as essential for national development by 2047. This study examines Kerala’s traditional ritual performances, Theyyam and Padayani, as complex indigenous knowledge systems rather than mere folkloric expressions. Employing Richard Schechner’s three-phase performance methodology—proto-performance, performance, and aftermath—the research reveals how these traditions function as dynamic frameworks of knowledge transmission through embodied cultural practices. The study demonstrates that Theyyam and Padayani encode philosophical, cosmological, and socio-cultural knowledge structures, offering alternative epistemological perspectives beyond conventional academic paradigms. These performances represent living knowledge resources with significant relevance for educational reform, cultural preservation, and decolonial approaches. Recognizing their intellectual depth and systematic knowledge practices can contribute to more inclusive, community-centered, and culturally grounded educational models aligned with contemporary development goals.</p>