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