Pepita Seth

Pepita Seth trained as a film editor, worked on many British and American feature films. She first visited India in 1970, to retrace her soldier great-grandfather’s diary account of his role in the 1857 march from Calcutta to Lucknow. All her subsequent visits were to Kerala, where she photographed Hindu rituals throughout the state. She currently lives in Kerala and is working on a book about the Theyyam culture. She has also authored the book Heaven on Earth: The Universe of Kerala’s Guruvayur Temple. In 2012 she was awarded the Padma Shri.

2019 Vol 2 Qtr 1 Perspectives

Kothamuri Theyyam

Padma Shri awardee Pepita Seth brings us a photo essay on the ritualistic tradition with a few social lessons

By Pepita Seth / June 29, 2019

Pepita Seth

Pepita Seth trained as a film editor, worked on many British and American feature films. She first visited India in 1970, to retrace her soldier great-grandfather’s diary account of his role in the 1857 march from Calcutta to Lucknow. All her subsequent visits were to Kerala, where she photographed Hindu rituals throughout the state. She currently lives in Kerala and is working on a book about the Theyyam culture. She has also authored the book Heaven on Earth: The Universe of Kerala’s Guruvayur Temple. In 2012 she was awarded the Padma Shri.