Alappuzha: Along with gods and demi-gods, Indian badminton icon and world champion PV Sindhu too will play an instrumental part of a centuries-old folk ritual art form during the famed 'Neelamperoor Padayani', a 16-day-long festival in Kerala's Alappuzha district.
A ceremonial 'kolam' (effigy) of Sindhu, holding a badminton racket, will be made and put on display on September 27 for the finale of the festival at Pally Bhagavathy temple here. One of the oldest shrines dedicated to Vanadurga, the temple can be traced back to 1700 years.
Along with the conventional effigies of divine and semi-divine impersonations, 'padayani' artists of the village have decided to make the 'kolam' of Sindhu as a symbolic representation of women empowerment and her epic victory in the recent world championship.
The six-feet-high effigy of Sindhu will be made completely using natural ingredients like the stem of arecanut tree, stem sheath of banana plantain, bamboo and lotus leaves and colour extracts of 'ixora' (chethi in local parlance) flower.
Last year, an effigy of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi was built for the festival.
Nearly ten colourful effigies including the conventional 'valiya annam' (grand swam), small swans, 'bhima', 'ravana', 'yakshi', elephant' will enthral audience during the padayani day.
The effigies, decorated with flowers accompanied by traditional drums, would be offered to please the deity on the final day of the 16-day-long festival.
Several folk arts would also be performed during the day.
PV Sindhu had scripted history as she became the first Indian to win badminton World Championships gold by beating arch-rival Nozomi Okuhara of Japan last month.
(With inputs from PTI)