Nettipattam is the traditional caparison ornament worn by elephants during the Pooram festival in Kerala. Legend has it that the Nettipattam was designed by Lord Brahma for Airavath, the white elephant of Lord Indra. These glittering ornaments that adorn the forehead of the temple elephants are a graphical composition of gold plated hemispherical copper or brass beads, of different shapes and sizes. These are arranged together as pixel art, signifying the pantheon of Gods in Hinduism. Nettipattam ornaments are made by the atelier of master craftsmen who have served the great temples of Guruvayur and Thrissur since generations. This is one the first occasions where they have associated with designers to showcase that their craft can have an alternate application, more suitable to a contemporary audience. The result is a collection of hanging lamps, adorned with the Nettipattam arrangements, plated in silver.
