Thanjavur Netti, Arumbavur wood carvings granted GI tag

According to Intellectual Property expert and GI counsel Sanjay Gandhi, who is the key person behind the award, said that the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar) had submitted the application for both the products in 2013 with the reference to the artisans from both Thanjavur and Arumbavur village in Perambalur district.

He said that the Thanjavur netti work, which is otherwise called Thanjavur pith work, is made from netti (pith) named as Aeschynomene Aspera that is grown in a marshy landscape in and around Thanjavur. The traditional art form has been adopted from one generation to the other and they are widely found in the Brihadeeshwara Temple, Hindu idols, garlands, door hangings and even hanged on the forehead of the cattle in the region. Most of the artisans reside in and around Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Pudukkottai and a particular group of people involved in making of this handicraft which has been recognised by the State government as one of the famous handicrafts of the State. The artisans make miniatures of Thanjavur Big temple, Srirangam Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Madurai Sri Meenakshi Amman temple, Thiruvalluvar Statue, Mamallapuram beach and Swamy Vivekanda memorial rock in Kanniyakumari. These miniatures are popular among the handicraft collectors.

Similarly, the 250-year-old Arumbavur wood carvings by the artisans of Arumbavur village in Perambalur are primarily made out of the wooden logs of mango, lingam tree, Indian ash tree, rosewood, neem tree for making sculptures.

The unique feature of the craft is the entire design carved out of a single block of wood. These artisans are famous for making temple cars. Sources said that the cars of Srirangam Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Vadapalani temple and Tirupattur Brammapureeshwarar temple are made by these Arumbavur artisans.

The artisans collect the wood from Panchamalai hills in Tiruchy. The wood sculptures are made between one foot and 12 feet which are in high demand in the countries like the USA, Australia, England and various other European countries.