| 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.Lace and embroidery
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| expertise in carving in wood, jewellery
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| | work of high quality is being done by
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| design, both gold and silver and also in
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| | women in several parts of Kerala. The
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| other mediums. Making idos and figures in
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| | Talangara village of Kasaragod taluk is
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| metaletc. The gifted artisans makes
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| | famous for the textile cap making
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| beautiful idols of Lord Krishna, Ganesh,
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| | industry. The cotton caps manufactured
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| Goddess Saraswathi, Lakshmi etc. in
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| | here find a ready market in the African
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| sandal wood ,elephants in rose wood and
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| | and Gulf countries.Ivory carving is
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| other art works in varieties of other
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| | another traditional art of Kerala. The
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| woods.Life size models of Kathakali, and
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| | art was given an impetus by Swati Tirunal
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| models depiciting snake boat race of
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| | Maharaja. An ivory throne made by Swati
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| kerala are exclusive masterpieces of
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| | Tirunal is still preserved as a show
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| kerala aritisans. The idols of Lord
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| | piece. The craftsmen engaged in this art
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| Nataraja in dancing posture and the
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| | at present produce a variety of models of
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| various lamps (vilakku) which are
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| | mythological characters, animals, birds,
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| essential for every ceremonies of
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| | cigarette cases etc., to cater to
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| keralities are also created by
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| | different tastes. A typical specimen of
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| artisans.Industrial arts and handicrafts
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| | ivory carving produced in Kerala is that
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| form an invaluable part of the Cultural
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| | of the snake boat (Chundan vallam) and it
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| heritage of Kerala. Metal crafts have the
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| | is cherished by tourists to the State as
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| pride of place among the traditional
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| | a memento. The craftsmen engaged in ivory
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| arts. Bell-metal casting is an old time
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| | carving also use other materials like the
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| industrial art. It has involved mainly
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| | buffalo born for practicing their art.The
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| two kinds of activities. Images or idols
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| | 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.Lamps
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| | Mukkuthi was an ornament for nose and
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| of the most artistic beauty are also made
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| | Kappu for the wrist. The most important
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| by Kerala craftsmen. The Greek lamp
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| | ornaments for the neck were Addyal,
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| (Changalavatta), the Archana lamp, the
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| | Yantram, Avil Mala and Puli Nakham.
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| Arati Dipa etc., deserve mention in this
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| | Cherutali was a kind of necklace worn
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| context. The Aranmula metal mirror has
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| | loose over the breast by Namboodiri women
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| attained fame among the products of the
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| | while Kasu Mala and Oddyanam were used by
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| 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.Wood craft is one of the
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| | earrings, studs etc., are now made by
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| ancient arts of Kerala as is testified to
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| | Kerala goldsmiths in a variety of
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| by the temples and churches of the State
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| | attractive designs.Apart from the main
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| which abound in wood carvings. Items of
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| | crafts described above, there are also a
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| furniture like chairs, tables settees,
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| | few others which deserve mention. Granite
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| sofas, almirahs, cots, radio castings
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| | carving is one such art, which is mainly
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| etc., and models of animals and deities,
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| | centred in Chengannur. The granite
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| toys and Kathakali accessories produced
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| | workers manufacture a variety of articles
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| by Kerala craftsmen are very much in
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| | like idols, household equipment, pillars,
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| demand. The models of caparisoned
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| | survey stones etc., which are in great
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| elephants and the carvings of Kathakali
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| | demand. The manufacture of musical
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| dance-dolls are items of popular
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| | instruments like Chenda, Maddalam,
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| demand.The craftsmen of Kerala have also
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| | Mridangam, Edakka etc., is done in some
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| developed a variety of handicrafts using
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| | places. The costumes and accessories
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| the rich wealth of flora in the State.
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| | required in Kathakali and Teyyam are
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| Screwpine mat weaving is one of such
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| | being manufactured by some craftsmen.In
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| handicrafts. Such articles as pillow
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| | Tellicherry, the home of Indian circus,
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| covers, cushions, vanity bags, purses,
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| | the peculiar kinds of umbrella required
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| hats etc., are also made of screw pine.
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| | by circus companies are manufactured.
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| The art of weaving bamboo-reed mats,
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| | Being a maritime State, Kerala has its
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| baskets and fancy articles is also one of
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| | own handicrafts based on marine
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| the simplest of Kerala handicrafts. Kora
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| | materials. Conch-shell articles like
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| grass is similarly used for making mats
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| | paper weight, pin cushions, ashtrayas,
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| of different sizes and colours.Rattan is
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| | studs etc., are made by craftsmen in the
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| used in the manufacture of articles of
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| | Trivandrum area. In Kasaragod area
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| daily use like chairs, settees, teapoys,
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| | articles like bangles, vanity bags and
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| cradles, trays, shopping bags and a
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| | name boards are made of glass beads. Thus
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| variety of other utility-cum-fancy
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| | the legacy of Kerala in the field of arts
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| articles. The coconut shell is used for
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| | and crafts is a rich and varied
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| the manufacture of such articles of
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| | one.Jayachandran.
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