Stories

Are you looking out for a perfect Kasavu Saree to commemorate this Onam? Well, here are the traditional sarees fabricated from the handloom village of Thiruvananthapuram, Balaramapuram. Located 15 km away from the city center, the village has numerous units that produce this prestigious Kerala cotton. The sarees and mundus produced here are renowned for their softness and are characterized by their gold-plated silver saree borders, commonly known as Kasavu....

The lore of King Mahabali and Vamana is retold to young ones in Malayali homes every year when Onam is around the corner. But there’s a story behind the beautiful Onavillu too. Now regarded as a coveted handicraft, the Onavillu was created by the celestial architect Vishwakarma on orders from Lord Vishnu after Mahabali expressed a desire to see all 10 incarnations (Dasavatharam) of the lord before being pushed to...

The mystical Aranmula metal mirror (Aranmula Kannadi) has baffled all who have encountered it since its discovery. Unlike usual mirrors, the reflection for Aranmula mirrors is on the top metal surface and the light does not infiltrate any glass medium, adding to its uniqueness. Its reflection is now considered a pre-requisite in any significant celebration and has also received Geographical Indication from the Central government in 2004-05. A 45-centimetre-tall Aranmula...

Onam is around the corner and one of the images that come to anyone’s mind is beautiful women, regardless of their age draping in those kasavu sarees – the off-white robe with those golden borders! This speaks volumes of the tradition and culture of the Keralities, which has travelled across geographical boundaries. There would be hardly any Malayalee who does not own this handloom popularly known as ‘Kerala Saree’. The...