Thrissur: In memory of the late tusker Thiruvambadi Sivasundar, elephant lover Vipinraj from Paravur has made a mini wooden sculpture of the tusker. The sculpture will be brought for this year’s ‘Anayoottu’ ceremony (elephant feeding ceremony) at Vadakkunnathan temple on Sunday.
The two-feet tall sculpture was prepared in flame tree wood (Vaka). Vipinraj is busy with the finishing works of the beautiful sculpture. He said that he modelled the pictures of Sivasundar to make the sculpture. He had also met the tusker in person when it was alive. The tusker died one year ago.
“Tusker Sivasundar was known for the beauty of his front portions. Left side of the face is aggressive and right side is calm. Left eye was a bit redder in colour. The tip of the trunk looked like a rose flower. Ears were coloured like copper. All of his features were excellent,” Vipinraj remembered.
Though the sculpture is only two feet tall, it can be lifted by two persons together. The size of the sculpture was reduced considering the difficulties to carry it from Paravur to Thrissur. It was painted with a mix of acrylic, sealer and filler. The sculpture would not be adorned with a caparison as it hides the real beauty of the tusker.
Though he hails from Paravur, Vipinraj has been an elephant lover since childhood. His father Rajappan and uncles also were elephant lovers which influenced him. But Vipinraj went a step ahead by converting his love to a sculpture.
