Thrissur: Prior to the 36-hour-long Pooram gala that begins on Sunday morning, the show of elephant accoutrement and parasols (aanachamayam) of the Paramakkavu devaswom began at the ‘agrasala’ near the temple on Friday morning. Several Pooram buffs thronged the ‘agarasala’ where 15 sets of parasols and 15 ‘nettipattams,’ donned on the forehead of the pachyderms, were put up for show.
Alavattam and venchamaram, which are raised by persons atop the pachyderms, during the Pooram were part of the show. The glowing ‘nettipattams’ covered with gold with golden bubbles on them were a major attraction. Both the devaswoms of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi, who play the major roles in the Pooram fete, had started the initial work of accoutrements and parasols two months before Pooram.
Nearly 50 sets of parasols of varying colours and novel designs have been prepared by using velvet and designing materials brought from Surat in Gujarat.
The devaswoms had roped in 25 artists in their respective camps for making these embellishments.
A parasol will cost not less than Rs 10,000 and for the ‘kudamattam’ a single set consists of 15 umbrellas. Besides the 45 sets prepared by each of the devaswoms, nearly 10 sets will be presented during the ‘kudamattam,’ which they receive from sponsors.
This will include special umbrellas having LED light and replicas of idols of gods and goddesses. The show of ‘Thiruvambadi’ devaswom will begin at ‘Kausthubam’ hall on Saturday morning. The parasols will be raised atop the elephants during the ‘kudamattam’ that begins in the afternoon on Pooram on Sunday.
