The Changankulangara Kettukala Samithi is all set to present Asia’s tallest kettukala at the 28th Onam festival at Ochira Parabrahma Temple on Tuesday.
The kettukala this year will have a total height of 54.5 feet, including the 10 .5-feet head portion (Nandikesa Sirassu) and two-feet wheel base, said Omanakuttan Pillai and Ashok Kumar, president and secretary respectively of the Samithi.
This is for the third consecutive year that the Samithi is presenting the biggest kettukala. Last year, the kettukala they presented had won the first prize. This year, the kolkettu portion (body and legs) will have a height of 42 feet.
The Nandikesa Sirassu was sculpted by Chunakkara K.R.Rajan from a single piece of Ezhilampala wood which took around a year for completion. The kolkettu portion is covered with 42 rounds of hay and decorative clothes. The kolkettu portion is prepared by Arunoottimangalam Sasi.
The total cost of the kettukala will be around Rs 14 lakh, which was mobilised from the people of Changankulangara kara. Many cultural organisations in the area are also cooperating with the preparations of kalakettu.
Those engaged in the preparations of the kettukala are observing vrutham (austerities). A total of 52 karas spread across the Karunagapally taluk in Kollam district and Karthikappally and Mavelikkara taluks in Alappuzha district will participate in the 28th Onam festival at the temple with their Kettukazhcha. Usually, the big kettukalas are presented by the Memana, Vayanakam, Paikuli, Prayar and Edayanambalam karas. The tallest of them will be presented a prize by the Temple Administration Committee.
All the kettukazhchas from various karas will be taken to the temple in a huge procession.
The Ochira Parabrahma Temple is unique, as it doesn’t have a deity, a sanctum sanctorum or a brahmin poojari. Worship is done at two arayaltharas, as they are conceived as the abode of the God (Parabrahma). The bulls have got importance, as they are related to Lord Prameswara, the Parabrahmamoorthy.
