Artifacts of Kerala

[minisoji]

Aranmula Kannadi



Aranmula, this small village is worldfamous for its metal mirrors with no refraction, the 'Aranmula Kannadi' ( kannadi means mirror in Malayalam). The technology for this is not used anywhere else in the world. Since the spectacular snakeboat races starting from midSeptember that is a particularly good time to visit Aranmula. Those of you who are artistically inclined should check out the fine 18th century murals in Parthasarathi temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, on the banks of the river Pampa. You could also stop by at the Vijnana Kalavedi, centre for training in traditional art forms and the Vastuvidya Gurukulam, a centre for consultancy and training in traditional architecture.

Getting there
Nearest railway station: Chengannur, which is about 10 km away.

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 115 km away.

Key words: kerala artifacts, kerala tourism, Aranmula Kannadi, Para, Coircrafts, Nettur petti, Nettippattom

[minisoji]

Para: The measure of harvest



Kerala was essentially an agrarian society, with many families having a piece of cultivable land being farm workers. Its fortyfour rivers make Kerala fertile for rice cultivation.

The para was the measure for paddy the measuring unit as well as the measure pan. It was used by the farmer to determine the measure of his harvest and retailers atthe local market. An interesting piece of craftsmanship, the para was shaped out of the base of the jack tree. The hollow of the wooden container had ornamental metallic beadings that helped check expansion or contraction due to climatic changes.

The mouth of the para was invariably lined with metal, usually brass. Today international units have relegated the para to the drawing rooms, where it enjoys pride of place as a rare curio. However, even today the nirapara ( para filled with paddy) is the auspicious sign of prosperity and is an inevitable part of festivals and celebrations.

Keywords: kerala artifacts, kerala tourism, Aranmula Kannadi, Para, Coircrafts, Nettur petti, Nettippattom

[minisoji]

Chennamangalam handloom attains a touch of class



Chennnamangalam handloom is renowned for its quality and is making its way into the world of textile glitterati. The handloom products from Chennamangalam always commanded a steady demand in the market. But with the influx of the power loom and other mainstream textile products the market share of Chennamangalam handloom products began to take a back seat. But no more!Chennamangalam is reviving with more flashy and trendy designs to match the best in the industry.
With the introduction of new designs, the genuine products from Chennamangalam are here to make a strong fashion statement. An exhibition of newly designed products was held in Chennamangalam recently. With an impressive range of products, the handloom workers are mainly aiming for the export market.

Keywords: kerala artifacts, kerala tourism, Aranmula Kannadi, Para, Coircrafts, Nettur petti, Nettippattom

[minisoji]

Durable earthen ware of Moolampilly



This relatively lesser known village, surrounded by backwaters, has one thing to achieve fame - its durable earthen ware. In the early 70's, the joke that made the rounds in the retail market was the comparison of clay pots of Moolampilly to that of bombs made in Pakistan that never exploded on dropping.

The Moolampilly earthen pot has its own charm and durability. The goodwill built over generations gave birth to a society namely the Moolampilly Kaliman Society way back in 1962.

It is said that it was the AngloIndian community that started the pot-making in Moolampilly. The specialties of Moolampilly pots are that they are fully handmade. Three decades back they also started manufacturing Tandoori ovens and today most of such ovens under use in renowned five star hotels bear the Moolampilly trademark.

Earlier, about 100 odd families of the island were engaged in pot making but toady, the figure has come down drastically. The Society with its rundown factory is trying to revamp the business with the help of some Christian missionary groups.

Keywords: kerala artifacts, kerala tourism, Aranmula Kannadi, Para, Coircrafts, Nettur petti, Nettippattom

[minisoji]

Coircrafts



Simple and elegant, the beautifully crafted coir products of Kerala give an aesthetic touch to any home or office. Crafted by the women of the picturesque coir villages of the land of coconuts, the innovative range of products include mats, rugs, wall hangings, door pieces, bags, hammocks, ceiling/floor furnishing, beds, cushions, little showpieces, blinds... Made from the husk of the coconut, coircraft is a long drawn out process. First the coconut husks in huge quantities are left to decay in the backwaters surrounding these villages. Once the softer parts decay and only the fibre remains, it is collected and woven into ropes on indigenous machines. These are then dyed and meticulously crafted to fill orders. Most of the coir industry is concentrated in the Kollam and Alappuzha districts. Over four hundred thousand people, of whom nearly 84 per cent are women, are engaged in coir making, one of the traditional industries still surviving, in Kerala. You can pick up these coir products from the showrooms of the Kerala State Cooperative Coir Marketing Federation (Coirfed) across the country. The Coirfed site on the internet offers facilities to choose or contribute designs and to place your orders. These environment friendly articles will be shipped to you within days of receiving your orders. Prices range from less than a hundred rupees to a few thousands depending on the texture and size of the article ordered.

Keywords: kerala artifacts, kerala tourism, Aranmula Kannadi, Para, Coircrafts, Nettur petti, Nettippattom

[minisoji]

Steel Knives of Varappuzha



The relatively unknown place Varappuzha in Ernakulam district is known for its sharp steel knives. The Varappuzha knife, 'uli' and 'karandi', commonly used by the masons, have grabbed their confidence and approval by its exceptional qualities.

There are 25 'aalas' (workshops of blacksmiths) in Varappuzha alone, which have been catering to thousands of workmen from across Kerala for more than half a century.

Most of the young men now engaged in these workshops hail from the families who were tradtionally blacksmiths. The mastery of these men over the medium is so superb that automobile mechanics who fail to organise rare spare parts for their clients approach these blacksmiths.Given a chance, these blacksmiths can recreate an exact prototype of any metal product.

Keywords: kerala artifacts, kerala tourism, Aranmula Kannadi, Para, Coircrafts, Nettur petti, Nettippattom

[kelvinpl80]

Very nice post man...It seem very good and fantastic........

[jonssmith5]

Aranmula Kannadi

Venue: Aranmula

This small village is worldfamous for its metal mirrors with no refraction, the 'Aranmula Kannadi' ( kannadi means mirror in Malayalam). The technology for this is not used anywhere else in the world. Since the spectacular snakeboat races starting from midSeptember that is a particularly good time to visit Aranmula. Those of you who are artistically inclined should check out the fine 18th century murals in Parthasarathi temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, on the banks of the river Pampa. You could also stop by at the Vijnana Kalavedi, centre for training in traditional art forms and the Vastuvidya Gurukulam, a centre for consultancy and training in traditional architecture.