Tamil Nadu - Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom

Saree Weaving ~ Vanavasi

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 10:00:19 +0000

A place once said to have given shelter to the Pandavas, now produces alluring cotton and silk sarees. These still retain their authentic charm and have beautiful colours, zari work, motifs and simple yet elegant borders. Chettiar community residing in the Vanavasi town of Salem district, weaves these eye catching Vanavasi sarees. People from all over the world are attracted towards it, especially for its durability and softness. It leaves many awestruck and wanting to buy one to add to their collection.

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Saree Weaving~Manamedu

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 14:57:07 +0000

The Manamedu sarees have earned their reputation for being durable and gorgeous cotton-zari sarees that imbibe the culture of South India. These sarees have a tremendous amount of cultural significance attached to them. Moreover, the design of these sarees can be seen as simplistic, yet contemporary which makes them the perfect fit for everyone. The elegant stripes done on them, make them stand out and also make the wearer feel graceful and beautiful.

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Weaving~Koorainadu sarees

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 11:07:19 +0000

The muhurtham of Tamil weddings in the earlier days, saw brides resplendent in colorful chequered sarees from Koorainadu. Adorned with bangles, bindis, and gajras, the Tamil women in these Koorainadu sarees emitted a golden light of love, hope and happiness which marked the auspicious beginning of their married life. These special sarees are also known as Koorai Pattu Pudavai. Here the Koorai represents the place where these sarees are produced i.e. Koorainadu, Mayiladuthurai. The word Pattu means Silk whereas a saree is called Pudavai in Tamil. Thus Koorai Pattu Pudavai means a silk saree from the Koorainadu region. They are still worn by Tamil women during their wedding ceremonies and has immense religious and historic significance in South India. They are one of a kind as only experienced weavers can weave them and thus can make the bride feel special.

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Weaving~Chennimalai

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 08:52:55 +0000

The second you step foot in the workspace of the Chennimalai weavers, you get a rush of an insight that makes you realize how the life of people here revolves around threads and different handloom items. The aura of the workspace creates a buzzing visual of an endless sea of colourful threads. It is these threads that provide the weavers with happiness and sadness and act as a source of their smiles and joyful tears. They appear like the silhouettes of mountains that are held by wooden frames. It is believed that nature is translated and resided in these threads Every single thing you see here- from the sun’s rays to the smiles of the weavers, from the dust in the air to the frames of looms- everything is held by an aesthetic combination of threads.

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Bronze Icons Casting~ Swamimalai

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 10:32:37 +0000

The Swamimalai bronze icons are made by a community of artisans known as the ‘Sthapathis.’ Hindu worship has been inextricably linked with these bronze icons since time immemorial. These icons are not just symbols of worship, they are a reflection of the artistry and craft that is embedded in the Indian culture; they are emblems of the spirit of gods and goddesses; they are witness to the proposition that traditional handicraft can stand strong in the face of modernization. The magic in the fingers of the Sthapathis and their adherence to the Indian scriptures while crafting have earned these bronze icons worldwide acclaim. Moreover, the knowledge of making these bronze icons has been passed down from one generation to the next, corroborating the idea that art transcends all boundaries of life and death.

Though bronze icon making is an age-old Indian tradition, it was only during the Chola dynasty that this craft rose to the significance and occupied a central position in Indian culture and Hindu worship. After the Bhakti movement, a large number of temples were constructed all over South India. Subsequently, the expansion of the Chola dynasty led to the emergence of more temples in South India and the sponsorship of all art forms that were embedded in religious doctrines. Therefore, the synergy resulting from the temple creations, the power of the Chola dynasty, and their appreciation for Indian handicrafts fueled the success of the Swamimalai bronze icons that were based on the religious text of Shilpa Shastra Manasara.

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Art Plate~Thanjavur

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Wed, 19 May 2021 09:21:11 +0000

The world-famous craft of making art plates is only present in the city of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. These art plates, also known as ‘tri metalwork,’ are designed by almost 250 artisans of the Vishwakarma community who live in and around this city. These art plates were initially built under the Maratha dynasty as a gift for the visitors who arrived at the Maratha kingdom. However, today, the usage of these art plates has expanded to a multitude of purposes. With symbols of deities, animals, and saints inscribed in the centre and intricate floral designs and geometric patterns carved out at the peripheries, these art plates are emblems of the ancient Indian tradition and how this tradition finds its place in the contemporary world. The evolution of their usage and significance over the years, tells us a story of the journey of this handicraft from one generation to the next and allows us to catch a glimpse of our history in our present.

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Saree Weaving ~ Thirubuvanam

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Mon, 10 May 2021 11:57:26 +0000

Motifs of checks, stripes, geometrical patterns, birds, temples, flowers, leaves, fruits- name it and you’ll find it on the Thirubuvanam saree. These sarees are not only considered to be rich in quality due to the fine silk usage but also aesthetically pleasing and durable. These are thick ‘three-ply sarees’ with one side of the border woven in real silver or golden zari. They occupy a significant position in the South Indian culture and play an essential role in conveying the craftsmanship of the weaver and his journey.

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Garland making~Madurai

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 10:37:56 +0000

A garland can be defined as a band or chain of flowers, foliage, and leaves. In Tamil Nadu, and particularly in the temple town of Madurai, flower garlands are considered to play a significant role in expressing and enhancing Tamil culture. Every garland is a myriad of colours; a kaleidoscopic journey; an array of fragrant, vivid flowers weaved together to symbolize love, purity, and devotion. From the moon-lit creamy whites of the famous ‘Madurai Malli’ to the bright flashes of red and yellow in the roses and marigolds, from the earthy tones of the foliage and ferns to the soft pinks and pastel blues of lotuses and lilies- the Madurai garland is not simply a band of flowers, it is a culture, craft, and collection of stories of all those involved in the process of garland making.

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