Kerala   

Nettipattams back in vogue

— Photo: C. Ratheesh kumar

Tusker gold: George Joseph giving finishing touches to a miniature version of the ‘nettipattam,’ the decorative headdress worn by elephants during ceremonial occasions.

There is a renewed demand for ‘nettipattams,’ the traditional caparison used to decorate elephants during festivals in the State.

The demand is fuelled by home owners, hotel and jewellery shop managements who covet the ornamented covering as a wall hanging and a good luck charm.

The new interest in caparisons has brought good business to people like George Joseph whose family in Thrissur has been making ‘nettipattams’ for temple elephants for three generations.

His family trade, perhaps, epitomises the best of secular traditions in the State. George says that much devotion, piety and care goes into the making of ‘nettipattams.’

The makers, mostly Christian men, observe a strict religious regimen, including shunning non-vegetarian food, while stitching the caparison.

For caparison makers like George, the ‘nettipattam’ symbolises Lord Ganapathi in full splendour. The biggest half-sphere on the caparison represents Ganapathi, while the smaller ones and the crescents are symbolic of the entire pantheon of Hindu gods.

Many believe that ‘nettipattams’ bring good luck to homes and business establishments. One Hindu legend has it that Brahma designed the first ‘nettippattam’ for Airavatham, the mythological white elephant.

The ornaments are now also used to decorate marriage venues.

‘Nettipattams’ are fashioned out of gold-covered brass and ornamental cloth. The traditional caparison is 31 inches across at its widest point and almost 70 inches long. Such a ‘nettipattam’ costs nearly Rs.47,000 and takes nearly a month to make. Artisans like George now sell a scaled-down version of the original ‘nettipattam’ that costs around Rs.6,000.

G. Anand

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