Thazhava Grama Panchayat-Screw pine weavers of Thazhava ,Pavumba and Manappally

Thazhava Panchayat Map

Villages-

Pavumba

Thazhava

Making of Screw Pine Mats

കൈതയില്‍്നിന്ന് പായയിലേക്ക്

കൈതോല മുറിച്ചെടൂത്ത് കൈവിരലുകളീല്‍്ചകിരിനാരുകൊണ്ട് ഉടക്കുണ്ടാക്കി മുള്ളുകള്‍ കളയുന്നു. അതിനുശേഷം ആവശ്യമായ വീതിയി്ല്‍് കീറിയെടുത്ത് പുഴുങ്ങൂന്നു.ഏകദേശം 40 മിനിട്ടോളാം പുഴുങ്ങേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. പുഴുങ്ങീയ കീറുകള്‍ വെള്ളത്തിലിട്ട് പുളികളഞ്ഞ് ഉണക്കുന്നു. ഉണങ്ങിയ ഇത്തരം കീറുകളാണ് തഴകള്‍. ഈ തഴകള്‍ ഉപയോഗിച്ച് നിറം ചെര്‍ത്തൊ ചെര്‍ക്കാതയൊ പായ നെയ്യുന്നു.

Tazhava in Oachira block is an important center of screw pine mat industry. A small village in Kollam district is well known all over Kerala and even outside as the place from a where a unique mat is produced. It is called the Thazhava mat. The mat is made from the blade like leaves of the commonly growing screwpine.

The process of transforming the leaves into elegant and cozy mats is an art that requires skill. Those at Thazhava are skilled in that art and for many there it used to be a means of livelihood in the past. But for generations together, the screwpine craft was restricted to manufacturing mats alone. Then came a time when the demand for the Thazhava mats dropped alarmingly and it was even thought that the craft would become extinct. Many left mat-making and did not pass on the skill to the younger generation while here and there some continued with it as a part-time engagement.

The artefacts made here from screw pine leaves are eco-friendly. The products are naturally coloured with raktha chandanam, pathimukham (two medicinal herbs), manjal (turmeric) etc.