Handmade in India

Detail of a carved idol of Vishnu with
intricately carved adornments. The idols range
in height from 1 to 8 feet, Arumbavur.
A carved bracket depicting a parrot made for
the temple chariot, Arumbavur.
WOOD CARVING
ARUMBAVUR IN PERAMBALUR
district is famous for its community of
wood carvers,who migrated from
Andhra Pradesh nearly 200 years
ago.This community shares kinship ties
with wood carvers from Kallakurichi,
Chinnasalem and Thammampatti.The
craft practiced by these traditional wood
carvers, as in the other parts of Tamil
Nadu , follows the rules of iconography
described in Shilpa Shastra which are
treatises on image making.Few
craftsmen are specialists in skillfully
working out geometric proportions and
scale of detailing required for temple
chariots.FGor wood carving a sketch is
made on the wood and the master
craftsman outlines a basic shape with a
chisel.The junior craftsmen complete the
carving under the supervision .Idols od
deities are made for temples and
sometimes as votive offerings.The
woods used are
vengai,mango,maavalingai and athi for
temple work.The craftsmen mostly carve
religious products in the tradional style
which has changed little for centuries.
Production Clusters
Perambalur district:
Arumbavur
Perambalur
Salem district:
Thammampatti
Thanjavur district:
Papanasam
Madurai district:
Madurai
Virudhunagar
district:
Virudhunagar
Kanniyakumari
district:
Nagercoil
Kanchipuram
district:
Mamallapuram
Chennai district:
Chennai
Products
Idols of Hindu gods
Figure of Christ
Dasavatara panels
Ashtalakshmi,Musicians
Vahanam-mounts for
temple deities
Chariots
A vertical panel depicting Krishan
standing beside an affectionate cow
under the peacock`s plumage spread like
a tree.The lower panel has an image of
Lakshmi,the consort of Lord Vishnu.
Tools
Chisels,Ruler
Hammers
Handsaw
Screwdrivers
Cutting pliers
Spanners
Sandpapers
Dividers
T-squares
SILK GARLAND MAKING
ARANI IS AN important cluster for weaving and is famous for its
skills , like kanchipuram.the availability of silk thread has facilitated
the craft of silk garland making.After removing the starch,silk
strands.A biunch of strands is gathered in the hand and a thick nylon
or viscose cord is inserted in the centre.
Two multi stranded silk garlands, embellished with zari, gold thread,
and tassels are made from silk yarn leftover from weaving silk saris.
A zari string is knotted around the bunch.Once the
zari loops are in place,they are pushed along the
central cord,in the process gathering the silk strands
into ball-shaped balls,the ends are fastened with
beads and other ornamentation is gold colour.The
single column of malai,garland thus made is
combined with other columns and bound together to
make larger garlands.Silk is considered pure and used
for religious purposes by Hindus.
A garland made by reusing cut or pierced cocoons.
Waste silk cocoons are trimmed, strung and stitched
to make a variety of garlands by women with
disabilities who were given training by the
Department of Sericulture in Salem.
Production Clusters
Tiruvannamalai
district:
Arani Tiruvannamalai
Salem district
Salem
Products
Ordinary malai
Long malai
Wedding malai
Thomboi for temple
chariots
Bowthra malai for
Tirupati Temple
Silk cocoon malai
Tools
Wooden hair comb
Cards
Knives
Scissors