TP SOORAJ@The New Indian Express.Kochi.
Kerala

Vibing back to roots

TNIE lensman T P Sooraj captures the Gen-Z frenzy at a Nandagovindam Bhajans concert held as part of the Ernakulam Shiva Temple festival

T P Sooraj

For a generation raised on digital noise, the renewed presence of youth at temple festivals and cultural gatherings may seem unexpected. Yet across Kerala, youngsters are vibing back to traditional roots.

Temple music, rituals, and celebrations are no longer viewed as solemn or outdated. They are being rediscovered as immersive, uplifting, and emotionally grounding.

In these spaces, age dissolves, stress evaporates. This shift is less about religion and more about resonance. In a fast, anxious world, youth are seeking calm, meaning, and shared excitement. Some traditions offer that refuge and reinvigoration — without rejection of modernity. 

Scenes from the crowd

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