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