8AM Alankaram is ANNAPURNI, done with rice flour, the sari details marked out with almonds along the length and to show creases, walnuts and atthi or dried figs to show decorative and border details. Mutthumariamman had a spoon in her hand and a small pot with foil bunched in it to show pongifying rice I suppose. Sari beneath the rice flour alankara sari, border colour matched. Quite creative and ingenious. Jnanavel Swami had refused to tell us the alankaram the night before, it’s meant to be part of the early morning awakening darshan. Suspense and surprise.
There’s also a vibrant alankara tradition at Vedapuriswara, but not nearly as creative as at Mutthumariamman. Chandana kaappu today in orange, but with pink glitz – Tripurasundari’s blouse was pink, sari details in the same shiny pink material.