<< Kerala Handicrafts

Making bamboo items and Bamboo mat painting is one of the major handicrafts concentrated in and around Alappuzha, which requires the artisans and craftsmen to work with total concentration and dedication. Most of the paintings are of mythological characters – gods and goddesses, besides animals, birds, scenery etc. in different sizes and in attractive colours.The craftsmen involved in these art forms have painstakingly perfected the art by using their deft and dedicated hands. Out of the various arts and crafts of Alappuzha in Kerala, Bamboo Mat Paintings are counted as a major draw. This forms an integral part of the major cottage industries of this South Indian state.

Unlike other regions of India, the expertise of the craftsmen of Kerala is totally indigenous. This unique signature style can be seen in the intricate weaving of the bamboo mat paintings. To begin with, the craftsmen make a mat of the necessary size which would act as the canvas. Then they create the designs by painting sketches. Generally, majority of these Bamboo Mat Paintings depict attractive and beautiful scenes, birds, animals, human as well as religious figures. The paintings are done in perse dimensions and eye-catching colours. These mat paintings are given a finishing touch by way of beautiful bamboo reed frames both at the top and the bottom. The top of these attractively woven Bamboo Mat Paintings come with a tag for hanging so that you may add it to your home décor to enhance your interiors or as a utility item.

People are simply mesmerized by the beauty of these Bamboo Mat Paintings. It is indeed a mystery how the local craftsmen weave magic into such a simple thing as bamboo. The craftspersons of Kerala seem to have the knack and technique imbibed in their genes.

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