A Comparative Study of Ritual Practices Associated with Nerchas in Malabar

Abstract

Nerchas represent one of the most significant forms of folk religious expression in Malabar, integrating shrine-centred devotion with social interaction, material culture, and collective memory. Sustained primarily through oral tradition and ritual repetition, Nerchas function beyond the limits of formal religious practice, shaping cultural continuity within the Mappila community. Drawing exclusively from ethnographic observations and analytical insights, this paper undertakes a comparative study of ritual practices associated with major Nerchas in Malabar. By examining offerings, donations, Cheerani, embodied ritual actions, and festival spaces across multiple Nerchas, the study identifies a shared ritual structure grounded in local resources and community participation. The paper argues that the persistence of Nerchas in the contemporary social order lies in their capacity to embed sacred meanings within everyday practices, thereby sustaining relevance amid social change.