| Kerala, the Gods own country Situated in | | | | of utility and beauty as lamp stands, flower |
| India has a rich tradition of Handicrafts. | | | | vases, ashtrays etc. Coir carpets and |
| Kerala's traditional handicrafts are a class | | | | mattings produced in many attractive designs |
| of its own. The artisans of kerala have | | | | and colours find a ready market in India and |
| traditional expertise in carving in wood, | | | | abroad.Lace and embroidery work of high |
| jewellery design, both gold and silver and | | | | quality is being done by women in several |
| also in other mediums. Making idos and | | | | parts of Kerala. The Talangara village of |
| figures in metaletc. The gifted artisans | | | | Kasaragod taluk is famous for the textile cap |
| makes beautiful idols of Lord Krishna, | | | | making industry. The cotton caps manufactured |
| Ganesh, Goddess Saraswathi, Lakshmi etc. in | | | | here find a ready market in the African and |
| sandal wood ,elephants in rose wood and other | | | | Gulf countries.Ivory carving is another |
| art works in varieties of other woods.Life | | | | traditional art of Kerala. The art was given |
| size models of Kathakali, and models | | | | an impetus by Swati Tirunal Maharaja. An |
| depiciting snake boat race of kerala are | | | | ivory throne made by Swati Tirunal is still |
| exclusive masterpieces of kerala aritisans. | | | | preserved as a show piece. The craftsmen |
| The idols of Lord Nataraja in dancing posture | | | | engaged in this art at present produce a |
| and the various lamps (vilakku) which are | | | | variety of models of mythological characters, |
| essential for every ceremonies of keralities | | | | animals, birds, cigarette cases etc., to |
| are also created by artisans.Industrial arts | | | | cater to different tastes. A typical specimen |
| and handicrafts form an invaluable part of | | | | of ivory carving produced in Kerala is that |
| the Cultural heritage of Kerala. Metal crafts | | | | of the snake boat (Chundan vallam) and it is |
| have the pride of place among the traditional | | | | cherished by tourists to the State as a |
| arts. Bell-metal casting is an old time | | | | memento. The craftsmen engaged in ivory |
| industrial art. It has involved mainly two | | | | carving also use other materials like the |
| kinds of activities. Images or idols of | | | | buffalo born for practicing their art.The |
| deities made out of copper, bronze and brass | | | | jewelry of Kerala is noted for its artistic |
| are used for consecration in temples and | | | | perfection. Each caste or community had its |
| other religious purposes. Huge Varpus | | | | typical ornament. An ornament of the Nair |
| (shallow basins of hemispherical shape), | | | | women was Nagapadam or serpent hood, so |
| multi-layered lamps and household utensils | | | | called after the shape of the pendant. An ear |
| are all made of these metals. These products | | | | ornament called Toda, a double convex disc, |
| are noted for their high degree of | | | | was worn after dilating the earlobes. |
| perfection.Lamps of the most artistic beauty | | | | Mukkuthi was an ornament for nose and Kappu |
| are also made by Kerala craftsmen. The Greek | | | | for the wrist. The most important ornaments |
| lamp (Changalavatta), the Archana lamp, the | | | | for the neck were Addyal, Yantram, Avil Mala |
| Arati Dipa etc., deserve mention in this | | | | and Puli Nakham. Cherutali was a kind of |
| context. The Aranmula metal mirror has | | | | necklace worn loose over the breast by |
| attained fame among the products of the bell | | | | Namboodiri women while Kasu Mala and Oddyanam |
| metal industry. A product of an accident in | | | | were used by Tamil Brahmin. A kind of heavy |
| metal casting, it is made of an alloy of | | | | guilt brass ring called Mekka Motiram was |
| copper and tin and resembles the glass mirror | | | | worn by Christian women after boring their |
| in every respect in point of utility. The | | | | ears in several places.Ottezhapathakkam, |
| Koftagari work, one of the popular metal | | | | Kombu, Tala etc., were also typical Christian |
| crafts of India, is also being practiced by a | | | | ornaments. Though most of the traditional |
| few artisans in Trivandrum. Figures of | | | | ornaments mentioned above have become defunct |
| deities, landscapes, floral designs and fancy | | | | now, the Kerala women are still found of |
| articles of a wide variety are produced in | | | | ornaments, and jewelry items like necklaces, |
| Koftagari.Wood craft is one of the ancient | | | | bangles, chains, earrings, studs etc., are |
| arts of Kerala as is testified to by the | | | | now made by Kerala goldsmiths in a variety of |
| temples and churches of the State which | | | | attractive designs.Apart from the main crafts |
| abound in wood carvings. Items of furniture | | | | described above, there are also a few others |
| like chairs, tables settees, sofas, almirahs, | | | | which deserve mention. Granite carving is one |
| cots, radio castings etc., and models of | | | | such art, which is mainly centred in |
| animals and deities, toys and Kathakali | | | | Chengannur. The granite workers manufacture a |
| accessories produced by Kerala craftsmen are | | | | variety of articles like idols, household |
| very much in demand. The models of | | | | equipment, pillars, survey stones etc., which |
| caparisoned elephants and the carvings of | | | | are in great demand. The manufacture of |
| Kathakali dance-dolls are items of popular | | | | musical instruments like Chenda, Maddalam, |
| demand.The craftsmen of Kerala have also | | | | Mridangam, Edakka etc., is done in some |
| developed a variety of handicrafts using the | | | | places. The costumes and accessories required |
| rich wealth of flora in the State. Screwpine | | | | in Kathakali and Teyyam are being |
| mat weaving is one of such handicrafts. Such | | | | manufactured by some craftsmen.In |
| articles as pillow covers, cushions, vanity | | | | Tellicherry, the home of Indian circus, the |
| bags, purses, hats etc., are also made of | | | | peculiar kinds of umbrella required by circus |
| screw pine. The art of weaving bamboo-reed | | | | companies are manufactured. Being a maritime |
| mats, baskets and fancy articles is also one | | | | State, Kerala has its own handicrafts based |
| of the simplest of Kerala handicrafts. Kora | | | | on marine materials. Conch-shell articles |
| grass is similarly used for making mats of | | | | like paper weight, pin cushions, ashtrayas, |
| different sizes and colours.Rattan is used in | | | | studs etc., are made by craftsmen in the |
| the manufacture of articles of daily use like | | | | Trivandrum area. In Kasaragod area articles |
| chairs, settees, teapoys, cradles, trays, | | | | like bangles, vanity bags and name boards are |
| shopping bags and a variety of other | | | | made of glass beads. Thus the legacy of |
| utility-cum-fancy articles. The coconut shell | | | | Kerala in the field of arts and crafts is a |
| is used for the manufacture of such articles | | | | rich and varied one.Jayachandran. |