Kerala Souvenirs
Things to buy from Kerala
Aranmula Kannadi
Centuries ago the native craftsmen invented a mirror made of polished metal, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The bronze smiths of Aranmula (Pathanamthitta district) specialise in the metallurgical craft of making these renowned mirrors with handles, known as the Aranmula Kannadi. The extraordinary craftsmanship and the ornate decorations ensure that all the visitors are unable to leave our shores without owning one of these exotic mirrors.
Nilavilakku
‘Nilavilakku’ is a lighted metal traditional lamp used in every house in Kerala state, INDIA. ‘Nilam’ in the Malayalam language means ground and ‘Vilakku’ means lamp.
The ‘Nilavilakku’ forms an integral to all traditional rituals and ceremonies. During dusk hours, a lighted lamp (nilavilakku) is brought to the verandah of the house. All members of the family at home join this moment especially the grandparents, in chanting hymns and evening prayers. Lighting the ‘Nilavilakku’ on any occasion is believed to be auspicious.
Nettippattam
Mighty, massive and majestic tuskers, decked out in elaborate and exquisite ornaments, are a sight common to most festival celebrations across God’s Own Country. Among the most splendid sights during this revelry is the Nettippattom, which is the glittering ornament that adorns the forehead of the elephant. It is one of the most carefully crafted ornaments in the entire country, as the precision and care taken into decorating these beloved animals is indigenous to the State.
The making of the Nettippattom: Three and a half kilograms of copper and three sovereigns (24 gm.) of gold go into the making of a simple nettippattom. It takes not less than 20 days to craft this ornament. The size of the nettippattom varies with that of the elephant. An elephant of 9 to10 ft. height would require an ornament of 60" — 66'’ in length with at least 11 chandrakkala (crescents) on it.
Kerala Sarees
Kerala sarees; the one with a golden border. It is named as the ‘Kasavu saree’ known for its kasavu — the zari border
Kerala Mural Painting
God’s Own Country is among the best locations in the entire world to view murals based on puranas (ancient Indian mythology). The exquisite techniques on display have evoked a wide range of emotions in historians and travellers alike. While some date back to the 8th century, a majority have been traced to the time period between the 15th and 19th centuries.
Our temples and palaces contain some of the finest depictions of stories from Hindu Mythology. The tales of ancient heroes have been conveyed in such a majestic and surreal style, that one is immediately made aware of the sheer genius on display. The pigments, gum, brushes etc. are all taken from plants or natural minerals and add to the appeal of the completed artwork. The oldest murals of Kerala are found in the Thirunandikkara Cave Temple and the largest mural panel in Kerala — the Gajendra Moksha — is at the Krishnapuram Palace near Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district. One can view several great adaptations of the Ramayana and the Bhagavathathat are preserved at the Mattancherry Palace in Ernakulam. Notably, the murals of the Shiva Temple in Ettumanoor provide insight into the earliest forms of Dravidian mural art.
Kathakali Showpiece
The Kathakali masks today available as little souvenirs and showpieces are an icon of Kerala’s vibrant culture. Complete with the elaborate headgear, painted face and long black hair of the Kathakali costume, these curios are made in Plaster of Paris, clay or papier-mâché.
Based on the colour of the face, the shape of the headgear and beard, there are five distinctive types of characters in Kathakali. The pacha or ‘green’ costume represents the virtuous and noble; the kathi or ‘knife’ the proud, aggressive, and unrighteous; the red thadi or ‘red beard’ is the aggressive and demonic, the white thadi or ‘white beard’, the mythical and fantastic beings like the monkey Gods and the black thadi or ‘black beard’- the tribesmen, foresters and cave dwellers. The minukku or ‘polished’ characters represent women, sages, Brahmins etc. Keralites usually prefer the pacha or the good characters for displaying in their homes.