Sreemoolanagaram native Thankamma's courtyard is currently lined with neat rows of clay Thrikkakarayappans, ready to grace festive pookkalams (floral carpets) across Kerala. At 73, Thankamma shows no signs of slowing down, marking over a quarter of a century of keeping this beautiful festive tradition alive from her home in Ernakulam district.

A month of preparation
Her preparation starts at least a month before the Atham festival begins, signalling the start of the Onam season. Handcrafting these traditional clay structures involves a laborious process of kneading the clay, shaping them into pyramids, drying them in the sun for three days, and then adding the final vibrant touches of colour. While clay was once easily sourced from her local area of Sreemoolanagaram, she now has to purchase it from outside sources due to rising scarcity.

A cherished family heritage
Thankamma sells these handcrafted clay structures directly from her home, attracting local residents as well as bulk traders from Sreemoolanagaram, Kanjoor, and Kalady panchayats. They are sold either individually or in traditional sets of five representing Lord Vamana and King Mahabali. The small-scale enterprise is a warm family affair; her son and daughter-in-law assist with the clay-crafting process, while her grandchildren enthusiastically help manage the sales.

"We do not always manage to sell all of them in a single season," Thankamma shares, explaining that any unsold clay idols are stored safely to be sold the following year. Born into a traditional potting family, Thankamma mastered the art of working with clay during her childhood, and her seasoned hands continue to add a cultural charm to modern-day Onam celebrations.