Karaikudi Wood Carvings
During the ancient days, the Chettinad wood craft was often acknowledged for its magnificent and metaphorical ‘Chettinad Nilai’ (wooden door frames), which elegantly graced the main entrances of the heritage buildings. Karaikudi is well-known for its treasured ‘Surya Pallakai’, consisting of exquisite and intricate carvings of images, especially of Gajalakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, and a Kalasam (small pot) with coconut and sprouting mango leaves, embellishing the center of the Nilai, which is the first thing any visitor would worship on entering a Chettinad house. The ‘Nilai’ is crafted by the ‘Aasaris’ (carpenters) who produce delicately carved sculptures, statuettes and artifacts. Carvings of miniature birds and floral patterns which were less than an inch took a year or two to complete due to the intricate work. Creative workmanship was found in making of the ‘Vahanas’ (vehicles to gods) and ‘Vellerukku Ganesha’ (root of a medicinal plant), which were carved by another group of artisans near Pillayarpatti’ temple.
