Pooram preparations enter final phase

HRISSUR: With just a few days to Thrissur Pooram, the artisans of the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms are busy giving the final touches to the ‘Anachamayam’ (caparisons), decorative umbrellas and other Pooram paraphernalia. Pooram will begin on May 1. The work is going on in full swing at both the  Devaswom offices to get the caparisons ready on time.
According to M Madhavankutty, secretary of the Thiruvambady Devaswom, the work would be finished in a few days. 75 per cent of the work has been completed and the remaining work would be finished in 3-4 days, he said.
For Thiruvambady Devaswom, 12 artisans have been employed for the last few weeks to get the caparisons ready on time.
Purushothaman V N, chief artisan of the Thiruvambady Devaswom, said that work on about 30 sets of caparisons including decorative umbrellas, one of the main attractions of the ‘Kuadamattom’ ceremony, are over. In all, 40 sets of caparisons  and about 600 decorative umbrellas are being built.
Work on fifteen sets of ‘alavattom’, sacred bells and also the refurbishing of the ‘nettipattam’ pieces are over, he said.
According to Vasanthakumar, chief artisan of the Paramekkavu Devaswom, who has been associated with the Devaswom for the past 36 years, about 70 per cent of the work on caparisons is over.
“Three types of ‘nettippattam’ pieces are being crafted. The work of gold-plated copper balls being stitched on a thick fabric to create a ‘nettipattam has been completed. About 32 sets of ‘alavattam’ and ‘venchamaram’ are getting ready and the remaining would be finished in two days, “he said.
The Paramekkavu Devaswom will exhibit its ‘anachamayam’ at the Agrasala on April 29 and 30.  
The Thiruvambady Devaswom will display its caparisons at the CMS School on April 30.
The 100-year-old association between the Thiruvambadi Devaswom and the CMS School is one of the classic examples of communal amity that the Pooram fosters.