Prelims 06-03-2024

Topic 1: Theyyam: A ritualistic dance form of North Malabar

Theyyam is a popular ritual form of dance worship in North Kerala and parts of Southern Karnataka.

Theyyam, deeply rooted in Kerala’s northern Malabar region, is believed to derive its name from “daivam,” meaning God in Malayalam. During theyyam performances, artists are seen to embody divine forms, reflecting its spiritual essence. The people consider Theyyam itself as a channel to a god and they thus seek blessings from Theyyam.
Each Theyyam is a man or a woman who attained divine status by performing heroic deeds or by leading a virtuous life.

What makes theyyam so remarkable in sense of socio-cultural construct?

The distinguishing feature of theyyam is its inclusive portrayal of diverse religious and cultural elements.

In Malabar’s social setting, theyyam occupies a pivotal position due to its treatment of caste. It stands out from other Hindu ritualistic forms of worship by upending the conventional caste hierarchy.
It is staged by Dalit men, belonging to different subaltern communities like vannan, peruvannan, malayan, mavilan, velan and many others, mostly in temples, upper-caste households and ‘kavus’ (sacred groves).
For centuries, theyyam has provided a unique opportunity for those traditionally exploited and oppressed by the upper castes. During the few hours of theyyam performances, these individuals are revered and sometimes even feared as they transform into gods and goddesses. People from all castes and backgrounds line up before them, seeking blessings with bowed heads. This subversion of the caste system is a major draw for the masses to theyyam.
It embraces tribal, primitive, and structured forms of worship, featuring a diverse pantheon of deities, spirits, ancestors, and heroes. Even Muslim characters from mythical tales find representation, highlighting theyyam’s syncretic nature.

Topic 2: MethaneSAT

Why in news?

Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming, after carbon dioxide. MethaneSAT will identify how much methane is coming from where, who’s responsible, and are those emissions going up or down over time.

What is MethaneSAT?

MethaneSAT it’s a satellite which will track and measure methane emissions at a global scale. It was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from California.
It is not the first spacecraft to identify and quantify methane emissions, it will provide more details and have a much wider field of view than any of its predecessors.
MethaneSAT will orbit the Earth 15 times a day, monitoring the oil and gas sector. It will create a large amount of data, which will tell how much methane is coming from where, who’s responsible, and are those emissions going up or down over time.

Why do we need to track and measure methane emissions?

Methane, an invisible yet potent greenhouse gas, ranks as the second largest contributor to global warming, following carbon dioxide. Since the Industrial Revolution, it has been responsible for 30% of global heating.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, methane’s warming potential is 80 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
The gas also contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone — a colourless and highly irritating gas that forms just above the Earth’s surface. According to a 2022 report, exposure to ground-level ozone could be contributing to one million premature deaths every year.
Therefore, it is crucial to cut methane emissions. And the main culprit: fossil fuel operations, which account for about 40 per cent of all human-caused methane emissions. The objective of MethaneSAT is to help achieve this goal.