Nettipattam: The Golden Ornament of Kerala’s Temple Elephants

If you have seen photos of Thrissur Pooram, you have seen the nettipattam: rows of elephants standing shoulder to shoulder, each one wearing a shining golden ornament from its forehead down its trunk, with men on their backs holding up bright silk parasols. It is one of the great sights of Kerala, and the nettipattam is at the heart of it.

What is a nettipattam?

Nettipattam (also spelled nettipattom) means, roughly, “forehead plate”. It is the ornament tied to the forehead of a temple elephant during festivals and processions. It is long and shield-shaped: wide at the top over the elephant’s brow, narrowing to a point down the trunk, and finished with tassels at the tip.

A nettipattam is not one solid sheet. It is made from hundreds or thousands of small metal pieces, mostly domes, balls and half-moon shapes, stitched onto a cloth backing in neat rows. When the elephant moves, every piece catches the light.

How it is made

Most nettipattams are made in and around Thrissur, the city of the Pooram, with Thrippunithura near Kochi another centre. Craftsmen shape copper or brass into small domes and balls, finish them in gold colour, then stitch them onto a backing of cloth or jute in a set pattern. A full-size elephant nettipattam is heavy and takes many days of handwork.

Traditional nettipattams follow a fixed arrangement of parts: a set of half-moon pieces, round medallions, rows of half balls and full balls, and a field of thousands of tiny bubbles. Many makers say the pieces stand for the elements and the planets, so the whole ornament is a small picture of the universe worn in procession.

Where you will see it

• Thrissur Pooram: held each year in the Malayalam month of Medam (April to May), when the temples of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu face each other with rows of caparisoned elephants. The parasol exchange, called kudamattam, is the highlight.
• Temple festivals across Kerala: almost every major utsavam with an elephant procession uses nettipattams.
• Weddings and welcomes: small nettipattams decorate stages and entrances at Kerala functions.

From elephant to living room

Over the last few decades, smaller nettipattams have become one of Kerala’s most popular decor pieces and gifts. Families hang them at the entrance or in the living room, often as a sign of good fortune and prosperity. For Malayalis living in the Gulf, in Bengaluru or Mumbai, a nettipattam on the wall is a piece of home.

How to display a nettipattam at home

• At the entrance: facing the main door, where guests see it first.
• In the living room: on a plain wall with space around it. It is a strong piece and does not need company.
• Against a contrasting wall: gold reads best against deep red, maroon, teak or a dark wall.
• At eye level: centre it about 145 to 150 cm from the floor, or a little higher if it is long.
• Keep it dry: traditional cloth-backed pieces dislike damp. Wipe metal parts gently with a dry cloth.

Questions people ask

Is a nettipattam made of real gold?

Festival nettipattams are usually copper or brass finished in gold colour. Decorative pieces for homes are made in many materials, including brass, gold-finish metal, and acrylic.

Is it a good housewarming gift?

Yes. In Kerala it is a popular gift for housewarmings (palu kachal) and new businesses, because it is seen as auspicious.

Which direction should it face?

Families follow their own customs. Many simply place it facing the main door so it greets everyone who enters.

The rest of the elephant’s finery

The nettipattam is the star, but a Kerala temple elephant on parade wears and carries a whole set of ornaments, together called aanachamayam:

• Muthukkuda: the tall, bright silk parasols held up by the men seated on the elephants. At Thrissur Pooram, the two sides compete with dozens of parasol designs, switched in quick succession during kudamattam.
• Venchamaram: white whisks made from yak tail hair, waved in rhythm with the music.
• Alavattam: round fans made of peacock feathers.
• Bells and chains: worn around the neck and legs, adding sound to the procession.

Before Pooram, the temples hold an exhibition of these ornaments, and crowds come just to see the new parasols and the polished nettipattams.

Choosing a size for your home

• Small (under 30 cm): for a car dashboard, a desk, a shop counter or a gift.
• Medium (40 to 60 cm): for an entrance wall or a pooja room.
• Large (75 cm and above): for a living room feature wall, a hall or a business reception.

Measure the wall first. A long piece needs height above and below it to look right.

From our workshop

Our Nettipattam wall art is a layered version in gold mirror acrylic over red, with rows of bosses, the crescent and the tassels. It is light, does not tarnish, and is easy to hang. The Nettipattam Nameplate uses the same shield shape for your house name in English and Malayalam. See them in the Ukera Museum, or send us your house name for a proof.