How did Lord Krishna float in mid-air, at Kerala's Onam parade? Here's the secret

Every year, Kerala beckons the Onam festival with a lovely cultural parade named 'Athachamayam' in Ernakulam's Thrippunithura. This centuries-old grand pageantry is renowned for its vibrant display of Kerala's folk arts, dance, music, and communal harmony, and the best performances also win prizes. This year, what won everyone's attention is a spectacular tableau performance that showcased Mahabharatha's renowned episode, 'panchali vasthrakshepam' (disrobing of Princess Panchali).

The float left thousands of spectators rubbing their eyes in absolute disbelief, as it had Lord Krishna levitating in the air! The group Iretil Brothers created it, and their performance made everyone wonder how Krishna was suspended in mid-air with no visible support, endlessly unfurling a colourful saree to save Panchali. Dinesh Kumar, the owner of a local welding workshop who engineered this optical marvel, has revealed the fascinating secrets behind the levitating deity.

The engineering behind the magic
Making a human being float in mid-air over a moving vehicle is no small feat. It required meticulous planning and robust structural design. Dinesh and his team began by securing two heavy-duty iron tubes, 3 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick, to the lorry's platform. They welded these vertically to create a strong spine. From the upper end of these tubes, a metal rod was bent into the exact shape of an arm. Extending from the shoulder area down to the feet, two additional 1-inch square steel tubes were welded into place to form a rigid internal harness.

Tailored to perfection
To make sure the illusion looked perfectly natural, the process was akin to custom tailoring. Nikhil Sathyan, the artist who played Krishna, stood still while the fabrication team took his precise physical measurements. Steel plates were then cut and welded to custom-fit his frame, ensuring he could be safely locked into the structure. Once Nikhil was secured, the entire metal framework was meticulously wrapped and concealed using sarees and traditional drapes. To the thousands of onlookers on the streets, the iron support structure vanished entirely, leaving only Lord Krishna seemingly floating in the sky.

Safety above all
Suspended high in the air on a moving vehicle, safety was the team’s biggest priority. Nikhil, who weighs around 60 kg, had to remain completely stable throughout the parade. Before the final run, the team conducted rigorous load-bearing tests. Multiple crew members hung from the frame to test its strength. The truck was also driven around the yard, stopping and starting abruptly, to check for dangerous swaying or structural defects. Only after ensuring total safety did the artist climb onto the platform.

This is not the first time the talented team has pulled off such an extraordinary display; they have created several jaw-dropping illusions for pageants in the past. Alongside Nikhil, actors Kannan Pandathil, Sibil Job, R Sabarinath, Sudhev V Anilkumar, and KS Pranav performed on the float. The brilliant minds working tirelessly behind the scenes included T Arun, Ajay Krishnan, Ashwan Bhasi, Silbin Job, Ajay Raghu, Yadu Jayaprakash, Gautham Krishna, and Babu Pulimoottil.