Mayana Kollai figures are brought to life by Makkan artisans
The youthful sculptors of Makkan in Vellore are creating goddess statues with great care as the much-awaited Mayana Kollai festival approaches, transforming their terraces into centers of creative expression. In the Tamil month of Maasi, this customary festival is celebrated one day after Maha Shivaratri. It is very significant in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, including Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, and Tirupattur. The event, which is set to take place this Saturday on the parched banks of the Palar, has inspired hundreds of followers from the former Arcot area to renew their passion. The event’s main attraction is the ancient custom of the distinctive effigy, which has long been a pillar of Vellore’s Makkan neighborhood.
Elumalai (20), a Makkan-born artist, said that Makkan is leading the way in incorporating sculpture and artwork decorating in the Mayana Kollai celebration. Kumar, who spearheaded the creation of sculptures for the Mayana Kollai festival, has been instrumental in bringing fresh concepts to the table. He had a key role in developing the costumes and decorations used in the Vellore festival, and other people in the north Arcot area have also embraced this artistic expression.
“A few years ago, my father died away. However, it was he who brought new monsters and costumes to the Mayana Kollai celebration. Prior to him, people’s main ornamentation was paintings,” Saran, Kumar’s son, said. Five young artists who are enrolled in college and specialize in sculpting work for Makkan. They have portrayed Siva and Parvathi, Panjamugi Hanuman, Ramar, Muniswarar, Angalaparameshwari, Kaali, Ratha Katteri, Narasimhar, and eighteen more deities in their repertory. Every sculpture has a minimum weight of 25 kg. They started accepting orders in January and finish at least twenty to twenty-five orders a week, charging between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 25,000 for each sculpture. Vaikol, super glue, thread, paper, and paints are some of their tools.
“The speciality of Makkan lies in our realistic art compared to other parts of the northern districts and this is why we receive orders from Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and even Salem,” said Harish, a different Makkan artist. They follow customs like kaapu katradhu and refrain from eating non-vegetarian food till the event is over as they start to sculpt. It’s a sculpture for the season. Our purpose is centered in sharing pleasure, despite what others may think—saying that it’s just for profit,” Sathish remarked.
On Saturday, the figures, which are made of paper and dried grass, are brought by worshippers and positioned in front of the enormous clay goddess Angala Parameshwari on the riverbed. With grains, cereals, and seeds embellishing the clay figure, the celebration originally functioned as a prayer for a plentiful crop. The celebration has developed into a colorful procession throughout the years, with many followers dressing in extravagant costumes. On the day of the event, devotees carry the clay idol of goddess Angala Parameshwari in a magnificent parade on a chariot, passing through significant areas of Vellore and neighboring districts on the way to the burial site by the Palar River.
