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The closure of the flower market brought about a scarcity, leaving craftsmen within the lurch, particularly the household making manikka malai
M.T. Vanithasree, an professional in making manikka malai (a particular garland of flowers), is likely one of the craftsmen who showcased their expertise to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram.
She, alongside together with her household, additionally went to Mumbai to beautify the puja room of industrialist Mukesh Ambani on the event of his daughter’s marriage ceremony. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt her commerce a severe blow.
“The flower market in my village Thovalai, a flower hub, was closed because of the lockdown. There is a sudden shortage of flowers. The earnings from all the weddings and temples festivals in the Tamil month of Panguni, Chithirai and Vaikasi, which would be enough for us to sail through a year, were cancelled. What sustained us was the free rice and the financial assistance from the government,” stated Ms. Vanithasree, who’s an engineer by coaching and teaches at a native engineering faculty.
Ms. Vanithasree belongs to a household of garland-makers specialising within the artwork of manikka malai at Thovalai in Kanniyakumari district. The total village is concerned within the commerce of flower and garland-making, however not all could make manikka malai. Her father Muthamperumal is a State authorities award winner and grandfather L. Madasamy Pandaram received the nationwide award from the Union Ministry of Textiles in 1988.
Her household day by day sends a manikka malai for the ornament of the ‘utsavar’ (the processional deity) of the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. “The work ensured a regular income. But the suspension of transport from Tamil Nadu and Kerala made it impossible for us to send garlands. This affected our income. We resumed it only a month ago,” stated Ms. Vanithasree, a fifth era artiste.
She stated that in Mamallapuram, the schedule for the Prime Minister and the Chinese President was to meet artisans from Thanjavur. “However, both of them turned towards me as soon as they entered the venue. Probably the scent and beauty of flowers and garlands would have attracted them. Mr. Modi explained the importance of flowers in our culture, and that was what I could understand from my little knowledge of Hindi,” she recalled.
She stated manikka malai is manufactured from oleander flowers and the leaves of notchi, a plant recognized for its medicinal worth. “We use rose petals for making garlands for weddings. For temples, we will use oleander and notchi,” stated Ms. Vanithasree, whose household, together with her daughter and son, visited Rajasthan to reveal their expertise on the World Association of Floral Art in February.
The making of manikka malai is a skilful artwork because it entails making separate strands earlier than weaving them collectively to give a healthful look. “We use the thread of the grass that is used to make carpets. An expert like my father can complete a one-and-a-half-foot -long garland in three hours. It will take four hours for others in the family to finish it,” stated Ms. Vanithasree, who has educated her daughter Dharani and son Muthu within the artwork.
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