Peruvemba Musical Instruments ~ Palakkad

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:47:02 +0000

Peruvemba, a village near Chittur-Thathamangalam in Palakkad district of Kerala, is known for a longstanding tradition of making leather-based percussion instruments. For around two centuries, artisans of the Kadachi Kollan community have produced instruments such as the mridangam, maddalam, chenda, tabla, timila and idakka. The craft has given the village a distinctive place within Kerala’s musical landscape, particularly through its association with temple music and Carnatic performance. Musicians from Kerala and other parts of India have sought out Peruvemba’s makers for instruments made according to the tonal requirements of individual performers. The significance of Peruvemba lies not simply in the number of instruments produced there but in the specialised knowledge involved in making them.

The post Peruvemba Musical Instruments ~ Palakkad first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.

Veena Making~Bobbili

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 10:08:25 +0000

The Saraswathi veenas of Bobbili, Andhra Pradesh consist of a large bowl that is hollowed out of a single wood piece and a bridge containing frets and strings that is placed onto the bowl. The Sarwasiddi community began this craft of veena making and till date continue this practice in order to sustain their livelihoods. Just like other art forms, the veena also occupied a central position in the Raja’s court. It gained a reputation of being a cultural icon and its practice became common in various households. The fact that this instrument was played by maestros of that time further contributed to its positionality and significance. These veenas were also gifted to governors or other higher officials as a token of remembrance.

The beautifully carved patterns, the delicate strings, the culturally rich history and the harmonious tunes that originate out of the Saraswathi veenas make it a special part of out history and culture. The tunes of these veenas not only create music, they tell us a story of the Sarwasiddi community and their craft that has been carried onthrough generations.

The post Veena Making~Bobbili first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.

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Peruvemba Musical Instruments ~ Palakkad

Veena Making~Bobbili