Māppila nērccas in malabar: dynamics of modification and evolution a comparative study amidst modernist and reformist disputes

Abstract

This study explores Mappila Nercha, the vow-based ritual performed at Sufi saint and martyr maqams in Kerala's Malabar region, as a dynamic folk tradition central to Mappila identity, inter-community engagement, and cultural continuity. This study adopts a qualitative ethnographic approach, deploying participant observation and informal interviews with ritual custodians, community elders, and devotees. Field sites include Badr Nercha, Appavanibha Nercha, Pattambi Nercha, Kondotty Nercha, B.P Angadi Nercha and Malappuram Nercha,each reflecting diverse regional styles rooted in Sufi devotion, martyr commemoration, or heroic Islamic legends. The research distinguishes between two evolutionary trajectories influencing Nerchas: (1) natural, organic, and community-led evolution, which sustains ritual integrity and social cohesion, and (2) external interventions stemming from globalization, commercialization, or reformist religious critiques leading to applied folklore, characterized by ritual shallowness and cultural fragmentation. The analysis reveals that naturally adaptive change fortifies Nercha’s symbolic and communal relevance, whereas imposed modifications weaken ritual authority and provoke identity anxieties. Findings confirm three major Nercha typologies Sufi-centered, martyr- based, and heroic-legend forms, each adapting structurally to local socio-cultural and ecological contexts. The study’s core insight is that Nercha’s resilience hinges on community belief system. When rituals are guided by internal belief and local tradition, they reinforce identity, inter-folk communication, and cultural stability. But the externally influenced changes, risk eroding these foundational dimensions. This thesis contributes significantly to the field of folklore and ritual studies by illustrating how Mappila Nerchas, as living traditions, respond to modern pressures while maintaining their core social and spiritual significance. By examining the balance between organic evolution (community stewardship) andexternal intervention (globalisation, commercialization, religious reform, etc), the study highlights essential mechanisms for preserving ritual integrity and inter-folk communication