Coconuts are known for their great versatility and is widely used from food to cosmetics. They form a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics. Coconuts are distinct from other fruits for their large quantity of water, also called “juice”, and when immature, they are known as tender-nuts or jelly-nuts and may be harvested for their potable coconut water. When mature, they can be used as seeds nuts or processed to give oil from the kernel, charcoal from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk.
The endosperm is initially in its nuclear phase suspended within the coconut water. As development continues, cellular layers of endosperm deposit along the walls of the coconut, becoming the edible coconut “flesh”. When dried, the coconut flesh is called copra. The parts of coconut that is – the fruit, husk and shell all have its various uses. The outer layer of shell is sanded, modified to look better and are used as cutlery items or decorative items. The oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking and frying, as well as in soaps and cosmetics. The husks and leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decorating.
The coconut also has cultural and religious significance in certain societies, particularly in India, where it is used in Hindu rituals. In India, the traditional areas that cultivate coconut are the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka. Four southern states combined account almost 92percent of the total production and the other states in the northeast account for remaining 8.44percent. The places having coconut production also have coconut based products – coconut water, coconut toddy, coconut shell-based products, coconut wood-based products, coconut leaves and coir pith.
Place:
The land of Maharashtra is known for its varied, vibrant and vivacious culture. A land that was guarded by the great warrior Sivaji Maharaja and nourished by the great Maratha rulers speaks volumes of their valour, majesty, charisma and exuberance. The rich culture and heritage of the state stem from its multitudinous arts and traditions that have been preserved over the centuries. Despite heavy industrialisation and modernization, there are several places in Maharashtra that have preserved the traditional professions, arts and crafts native to those regions.
Maharashtra is the proud home to various different artistic techniques that have flourished under many rulers including the Marathas, the Mughals and the British. The state has a long and varied tradition of art and crafts from the paintings of Ajanta dating back to many hundreds to today’s Warli paintings. Another known craft of the state is the Warli folk paintings. The legendary beauty of the Paithani silk saris, the intricate silver craft of Bidriware, which reached its culmination under the Mughals, and the beautifully woven silk Himroo and Mashru shawls, the craft of Lacquerware in Sawantwadi continue to cast their spell on visitors. Kolhapur is famous for jewellery designed in traditional patterns of the Marathas and the Peshwas. The city is also known for its hand-made leather sandals or chappals, which are popular throughout the world for their simple styles, quality of leather and design.
Nashik is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Western Ghats, on the western edge of the Deccan Peninsula on the banks of the Godavari. In addition to supplying the name to the famed Nassak Diamond, the city is known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant climate. The Godavari River flows through Nashik from its source, which lies to the southwest of the city, in Trimbakeshwar. Nashik is more popularly known as the “Wine Capital of India”, or the “Grape City”.
Nashik is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre and is known for its culture and tradition. It is a city of tumult from stirring or excitement is a mixture of the ancient and the modern culture. This is one of the holy places of the Hindu for Lord Rama and wife Sita along with brother Laxmana, of the epic Ramayana, spent the major part of his exile here and also the city is housed with numerous forts and majestic temples. Nashik got its name from the event of Lord Laxmana when he cut off the nak (nose) of Ravana’s sister Surpanakha.
Coconut Shell Jewellery:
The coconut constitutes a plant that belongs to Palmae family and is widely grown in tropical regions as it needs proper living environment for its growth and production. Coconut is well-known as a multipurpose plant and has been utilized and developed in a manner that yields a high economic value. Even, for that part of the plant that could be considered as waste, such as its fiber which is utilized among other uses as active charcoal; while the shell is often processed to create remarkable art works.
Coconut shell has biological function as the protector of the main fruit. Located in the inner side of the coconut fiber with its thickness around 3-6mm. Coconut shell can be categorized as hard wood, yet has higher lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose. With above composition, thus art works from coconut shell have excellent quality, imperishable and relatively easy to be formed. These features have resulted in the development of the modern coconut shell handicraft industry.
Instead of being thrown away or used as firewood for cooking dry coconut shells are carved in different designs, varnished and colored. Coconut shell craftwork involves tremendous creativity and is used for the creation of utility and decorative items by artisans who use their creativity to create items from utility to artistic and decorative. The items produced include Table lamps, flowerpots, table clocks, different idols and decorative items.
Carving coconut shell is very difficult and only highly skilled craftsmen can make products out of it due to its hardness. Traditionally, crafting objects out of coconut shell to make household article was practiced by coconut farmers. They would scoop out the copra by making a neat hole at the top of the shell, and use the shell which was the waste or by-product.
It is believed that as a craft, coconut shell carving could have been experimented with by craftsmen from the Vishwakarma community in Kerala. Traditionally involved in sword making and carving wood and ivory, they may have tried out coconut wood and shell as well.
Coconut shell craft has gained popularity only in the last few decades, and hence does not have a long history. However, a report mentions this craft brought in from Iraq almost 900 years ago. It could be that the wood carving artisans from the Middle East and Persia were the first ones to try carving on coconut shell. The success of coconut craft is because it is eco-friendly, and is inexpensive. It is easy to work with once it has been mastered; it is durable, beautiful and utilitarian; it is available in abundance. The craft makes use of non-exhaustible natural resources and makes available an option to the harmful effects of plastic.
