Crafted to Care– Indian Palm Crafts

Submitted by India Week on Thu 08/03/12

As part of India Week, writer Preena Deepak champions the history, tradition and skill behind Indian palm crafts.

"Indians' association with naturally occurring products is an ancient one and also the basis of India's enormously varied handicraft industry. Using substances found in their environment, Indians have excelled in creating exquisite products. Right from household utensils to ornaments and finery, Indian crafts have stood out for their uniqueness as they are sourced from nature.

Traditional craft secrets have been passed on from one generation to another and much of what remains today in the Indian craft arena is a result of such knowledge transferred from our ancestors. This is also the reason why certain families have taken up art and craft as their profession.

Palm Crafts in Manapad

Deep in the heart of South India, in the small coastal village of Manapad, reside groups of women who engage in creating craft using palm leaves. Though the community living in the village relies on fishing for their livelihood, women here have made a mark for themselves by trading in artistic utilities made with dried palm leaves.

Along coastal India, palm trees (Borassus flabellifer) are found in abundance and this is the reason why Indians here have found a use for every part of the palm tree. The leaves of palm trees are by far the most useful part and dried leaves help thatch roofs of small huts and sheds here.

The women's group at Manapad however uses dried palm leaves to make baskets, boxes, mats, trays, purses, hats, handheld fans, toys and a whole lot of craft items which are sold through a co-operative society. These crafts are stunningly pretty and add artistic value to the home.

Beauty and Practicality

Their look alone is not the only reason to use palm craft products. Palm leaves have the inherent property of preserving the goodness of things stored. For instance, food, when Palm Basket kept in palm boxes, stays fresh for several hours and so people in these parts often have a few containers made with palm leaves in their kitchens. Palm mats look chic and help Indians take a cool nap while resting on the floor.

Products made using palm leaves are natural, healthy and promote green living. They are a must for mankind and the use of these items has been lauded in India for centuries.
However with the easy availability of plastic, metal and other substitutes, palm crafts are losing their market at a rapid pace. The women working in Manapad have their concerns. Though these women are exceptionally skilled at making intricate patterns using palm leaves, they have been forced to give up on these time consuming designs as there is no longer a demand for such delicate palm products.

This is indeed a sad state and one that needs attention. The substitutes flooding the market seem to have a longer life than products made with palm leaves. However, most of these modern gadgets do not have the benefits that the naturally occurring palm tree offers. If the present trend is allowed to continue palm crafts may soon become extinct in India depriving future generations of ethnic and aesthetic charm."

Preena Deepak is a freelance writer and the Editor of the Indian Culture Site at BellaOnline.com. Visit indianculture.bellaonline.com for more information on India and its unique culture. Preena sends out a FREE weekly newsletter with the latest updates on the Indian Culture Site. Make sure you subscribe to your own copy while at the site.