Pathanamthitta: Nettipattam (head adornment of elephants usually worn during temple festivals) making was just a hobby for sisters Archana and Aathira. They even earned a decent pocket money from it. But when their mother Ambily too joined them, they developed their hobby into a small business unit.
Beautiful handicraft items like nettipattam, clay ornaments, pearl ornaments, rag dolls from waste materials, paper bags, paintings done using sea sand, delicious cakes, food items using jackfruits are made at their unit.
Ambily came up with the idea of handicraft making after she attended a rural development training session conducted by the State Bank of India, around 7 years ago. Ambily and her daughters were prompted to venture into this business especially after they realized that they could financially help their father Anilkumar, who works as a security official at the Guruvayur temple.
Following their mother, Archana and Aathira too attended SBI's training program. Aathira used to make pearl ornaments for her friends when she was in school. She fell in love with the elegant and majestic nettipattam after her father gifted her one almost 10 years ago. It was this love which made her craft beautiful nettipattams with finesse.
Besides having a good demand in the local market, the handicrafts items and ornaments made at the unit are exported as well. Aaathira, a final year computer operating programming student and Archana, a second year BCom student, dream to transform their small unit into a big business venture. Archana and Aathira vouch that they have the whole hearted support of their family and work hard to make their dreams come true.
