Wooden Reeds - Rami Reddy Palem
Weaving reeds is being practiced in Rami reddy palem for over 50 year, the primary raw materials which are purchased annually in Pondicherry is jowar stem.
Bamboo sticks are bought from the local market and cotton thread of no 20, which is around 50 rupees for one bundle is used. A bundle of cotton thread can be used to complete 4 individual reeds. A minimum of 3 people is require to complete a reed in a day’s time, materials are bought according to people involved on weaving reeds. For a family of four 50,000 rupees worth of jowar stem are purchased.
Tools used in weaving reeds are custom made to suite the Craftsmen:
Gutam:
Used to cut jowar stem into small pieces.
Paati:
Tool by a which cotton is spun into a yarn and it is a cost effective method.
Tugni:
Used to measure exact size of the jowar stem.
Knife:
To smoothen required areas.
Gutam:
A sickle shaped tool used to cut bamboo into finer small pieces.
