THRISSUR: The work is progressing in full swing at both the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswom offices to get the caparisons ready for the Thrissur Pooram.
According to devaswom officials in both offices, work on the elephant accessories have almost been completed and the remaining finishing touches would be given in two days.
At Thiruvambady Devaswom, 12 artisans have been employed for the last few weeks to get the caparisons ready. According to chief artisan of the Thiruvambady Devaswom, the work on about 40 set decorative umbrellas, one of the main attractions of the Kuadamattom ceremony, are over.
According to Paramekkavu Devaswom officials, about ninety percent of the work on the caparisons has been completed and 10 artisans have been pressed into work throughout the day to complete it soon.
Different types of ‘nettippattam’ pieces, including nettippattam pieces for the idol-carrying elephant, are also being crafted at workshops. Work on gold-plated copper balls that are stitched on a thick fabric to create a ‘nettipattam’ has also been completed.
Hundreds of gold-plated copper balls were stitched to create a ‘nettippattam’. The remaining works would be completed in a day or two, the artisans said.
About 90 percent work on the 15 sets of ‘alavattoms’, a circular ornamental fan used during elephant processions in the festival, have been also completed.
The peacock feather for making the ‘alavattom’ was brought from Tamil Nadu and the artisans had to work for about three weeks to complete the works on ‘alavattom’ and ‘Venchamarams’, white flowing wisps made from the fine hair of the yak's tail, which are used to fan, at regular intervals, the idol placed atop the elephants in ceremonial processions.
