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Professor Chathanath Muraleedharan
Thrissur: Aalavattam making procedure is long and quite intricate. The peacock feathers that adorn the Aalavattams are trimmed neatly and lined up in a circle as the border of the circular decorative shield. 30 kg of peacock feathers is used by Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady groups during the time of pooram. Each kilogram of feathers costs around Rs 3,000. The feathers are brought from Coimbatore. The good ones are selected from the lot, combined and stitched together. Aalavattams take up to 4 days to be made.
Several other things are also added to the Aalavattams to make them more beautiful. The peacocks shed their feathers during the October-December months. After this, there will be shortage of feathers. The price will also soar during certain months.
Kanimangalam native C Sujith is leading the Aalavattam and Venchamaram section of Thiruvambady for the first time this year. He was been working with his father Kadavath Chandran for almost 10 years, but this is the first time he is taking charge. Sujith took up the charge following his father’s demise. Kadavath Chandran had led the Aalavattam and Venchamaram section of Thiruvambady for almost 25 years.
Professor Chathanth Muraleedharan has been leading the Aalavattam and Venchamaram section for Paramekkavu for the past 18 years. He has been in this field for 57 years. He started at a young age of 12. He is part of the family that has been making Aalavattams and Venchamarams for the past 125 years.
Professor Chaathanth Muraleedharan and Sujith are relatives.
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