Coconut Shell Craft - Alleppey, Kerala
Alleppey is a town situated south of Kochi; it is a district of Kerala state of southern India. It is also known as the Venice of the east due to a large number of waterways that interconnects different parts of this town. The term coconut dates back to the 16th century. It derives from the Spanish and Portuguese words coco, meaning "a grin", and "a monkey face" respectively since there is a slight resemblance to a human face or a monkey head because of the three tiny indents on the hairy shell of the fruit. Cocos nucifera is a scientific term for the coconut tree or coconut palm. Tropics and subtropics are the natural habitats of the plant. The coconut is a plant, which favourably grows on the shorelines, it prospers on sandy soils. The fruit prefers rainy and sunny weather; it cannot resist low temperatures. For a propitious growth coconuts also require an area of high humidity.
The origin of the coconut plant is vague. Many researchers suggest Malaysia be the likeliest place; others consider the northwest of South America. The fruit has spread worldwide mostly with the help of seafarers. The coconut fruit itself is light and water-resistant, it can keep itself afloat on the surface of the water, thus able to be spread by currents. Now it is grown in more than 70 countries throughout the world. The major countries are India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Maldives.
Coconut Crafts in India refers to the creation of utility and decorative items with coconut shells, which is practiced in various parts of the country. Coconut crafts in India are mostly manufactured in South Indian states which feature the majority of coconut plants. Indian states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other coastal states have an abundance of skilled artisans for making coconut crafts. A coconut tree is a tree that is widely grown all over Kerala.
Coconut Palm Tree produces one of the diversified fruits where every bit is utilized in a variety of ways. The craft of making decorative and utility products out of coconut shells and wood is mostly practiced in parts of India where coconut is grown in abundance. However, with the passage of time and the improvement in tools, people started making various other small utility and decorative articles by cutting coconut shells. From the coconut shell products like bowls, vases, teapots, hookahs and many other varieties are crafted.
Regions of Production Coconut shell and woodcraft are primarily prevalent in Kerala: in and around Calicut, Trivandrum, Attingal, Neyyatinkara and Quilandy in Kozhikode. Other states where this craft is practiced are Goa, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a few parts of Bengal, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu.
