Devotion keeps venchamaram craftsman going for 5 decades

TWO sets of 15 elephants facing each other with a sea of humanity between them. That's the iconic setting of the Thrissur Pooram.

- GOPIKA VARRIER @Thrissur

And as the evening sky witnesses the colourful kudamattam, the white adornment of venchamaram offers a stark contrast, a sight that pooram enthusiasts go crazy for.

Crafting venchamaram for the Paramekkavu temple is Muraleedharan C, a retired professor from Kuttimuck. In fact, he has been in charge of these white adornments for more than five decades. The passion towards the craft and the devotion to the festival have kept him going, with the tradition passed down by his forefathers.