Thoranams/Appliqué Embroidery of Tamil Nadu

Very few craftsmen are practicing this craft today in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Practitioners belong to Pilamar caste and are a close-knit community. The main product of the decorated  temple chariot is the ther seelai.

Appliqué hangings are found on temple chariots and were used mainly as thoranams/lintel pieces during festival processions. When they are tubular in shape they are thombais and they look like colourful pillars as they hang down the sides of the chariot. They are mainly made of cotton or felt in rich, bright red, yellow, white, black and cobalt-blue The sacred images used in these hangings are of Gods and Godesses like Durga, Ganesh, Kartikeya and Shiva.