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Hues on the floor at VETTAKKORUMAKAN TEMPLE - An article by Padmanabha

It is a picturesque sight, at the VETTAKKORUMAKAN TEMPLE, near the west fort. Eyes fixed on the floor; Gopakumar is colorfully decorating a medium kaLam, of Devi. Neat and quaint, with small earthen pots with natural color powder, Gopakumar usually starts his work at the temple around 7 am. He is here after finishing a KaLam at the Chenthitta devi temple. By 9 am he will move to Palkulangara temple.

Once he starts his work, Gopakumar’s attention focused on the details of Ornaments and divine weapons.

“Basically I am a thimila (a musical instrument) artiste. I was deeply impressed by AYYAPPA PANIKKER a kaLamezhuthu Asaan, who regularly prepared the KaLams at the Palkulangara temple, where I worked. I joined him as a helper” says Gopakumar, a native of VILAPPILSAALA.
Like murals the portrayals are based on Dyana slokams. “I learnt them from AYYAPPA PANIKKER. I underwent ONE YEAR TRAINING AT THE Vaikkom Kalapeedom.”

What are the colors used?

We use only white, black, yellow, green and red. THEY together called Panchavarnam represent panchabhootha.
Raw rice powder for white, charred paddy husk for black,
Turmeric powder for yellow, finely powdered leaves of NEN MAENI VAAKA for green, chunnambu mixed with wet turmeric powder for red, are used. For hues we add rice flour.

To begin with an out line is made with rice flour. Once it is started one has to continue till finish. Once finished it is time for “VECHORUKKUKA”. That is an oil lit lamps, for Ganapathi, and ASHTADIGPALAKAS, A HANDFUL OF PADDY, rice topped with betel and areca nut, and coconut halves.

Kalamezhuthu is prevalent in Bhadrakaali, Sastha, and Vettakorumakan temples. The largest Kalam is made at the Vaikkom siva temple. The Bhadrakali has 64 hands and is in the standing pose on the Vethala. It is estimated that 50 kg of each color and five paRa of paddy and rice are required.

After the pooja the KaLam is wiped using Kamukin pookkula (inflorescence of Areca nut palm). ‘Few people come to learn this art form. They with draw realizing the strain, involved. You cannot make out a living with this” said Gopakaumar, adding that making KaLams in the month of VrUchikam (November15-December 15) is considered auspicious. (THE INDIAN EXPRESS-18-12 2004)