Pedana wooden blocks
Nature is reflected in many art forms and Gangadhar maestro of block making from Pedana carves his thoughts on wood. He along with a Kalamkari block printer created the TREE OF LIFE with 204 pieces of blocks! To meet this delightful person and see his work a visit to Pedana is a must.
Pedana, located 13 km from the coastal town of Machilipatnam in the Krishna district, is the largest hub in the country for hand block printing of Kalamkari. While passing through the busy lanes, one can notice that every second shop is selling Kalamkari sarees and dress materials having sign boards reading ‘Pedana Kalamkari’.
The place is not only famous for Kalamkari block printing and cotton weaves, but also for carved wooden blocks. Sri Kondra Gangadhar and his brother Sri Narasaiah run South India’s largest wood carving unit in Pedana. Born to an agricultural family, they brought national and international fame to Kalamkari block printing. Almost ninety percent of designs used in Kalamkari are their creations. Those interested can get blocks of their choice made here.
Teak is the wood of choice because it can withstand the carving process. Gangadhar draws the designs which are traced onto the wooden blocks. These blocks are mainly used for printing on fabric. They are also used as stamps and lifestyle items.
Artisan’s name and number:
K. Gangadhar
9393912709
‘Udayagiri’ Wooden Cutlery: Sun Rays on the hilltop
Would you believe wooden cutlery was used way back during the 14th century! This art form has survived and been revived by the present generation who are ever creating new designs to suit the present times.
The picturesque Durgampalli hills with dense forests, flora, and fauna and the sun rays on hilltops, one cannot help but gaze in awe and wonder at nature’s beauty. ‘Udayagiri’ in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, as even the name suggests, is one such place. It also has a fort at a height of 1000 ft, built in the 14th century which is integral as well as mystical to the region.
With so many types of wood available here, people have adapted their lives and livelihood to their surroundings. Wooden Cutlery craft finds mentioned in the 14 century and is said to have been patronized in the 16th century by the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The designs and carvings have a distinct Persian influence. The intricate carvings and jali patterns are unique to this craft.
Types of wood used are kalva, nerdi, devadhar, neem etc., wood procured from the forest undergoes a process of drying, curing, cutting, designing, carving to finishing. Products made are spoons, forks, paper knives, combs, bowls, etc.
Udayagiri Cutlery is light in weight, does not bend nor react with food, nor heat up like metal. They are eco-friendly, washable, and reusable.
Long after this art was forgotten, and almost gone unnoticed, the Development Commissioner Handicrafts (DCH) in association with Chaitanya Jyothi Welfare Society, Nellore identified it as a potential cluster for revival, design intervention and market exposure. Five self help groups in the cluster were trained by the only known craftsmen namely, Abdul Basheer, Sk Mehaboob Jani and late M.D. Hussain. More than 50 women were trained in the beginning and now about 90 are actively involved with the craft.
Ghousiya Begum who is the daughter of Abdul Basheer and third generation craftsperson is familiar not only with the craft but also with the nearby hills of Durgampalli which she used to visit in her childhood. She and her son Zakeer Hussain are celebrated state and national award winners and dedicated artisans who have not only trained and employed many people but also took part in craft classes for school students organised by the Crafts Council of Andhra Pradesh.
Government of India, Indian postal department released a special postal cover on Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery on 16th March 2022.
Artisan’s name and number:
Ghousia Begum
Zakeer Hussain
9492591085
Kondapalli Bommalu
A woman selling vegetables, a mahant riding an elephant (ambari), and the head of the dancing doll swaying with the breeze, are the Kondapalli bommalu (toys) that were part of almost every household in Andhra Pradesh, especially during Navratri. This craft lends itself as a wonderful gift for every occasion!
Away from the gaze of the bustling town of Vijayawada, is an unexplored hill fort and forest with native trees, and gorgeous small and big waterfalls where one can find beautiful scenery and serenity. Located at the foothills of the reserve forest which are the low-range hills of Eastern Ghats in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, this small village of Kondapalli has been synonymous with its distinctly carved and painted wooden toys since the 16th century. The ancestors of the craft are believed to have migrated from Rajasthan and chose to settle in Kondapalli due to the patronage of the royal family and the availability of raw materials. The craft acquired the unique name of the place they settled in ‘Kondapalli bommalu’ (toys) as they are locally known.
The Kondapalli Bommalu colony was established in 1987 to support the craft and craftsmen. Anyone with skill and passion could learn and practice here. These colorful toys also bring along a legacy that celebrates ‘Bommala Koluvu’ during Sankranthi and Dussehra festivals. Long forgotten village folk come to life in these creations. Both children and adults are able to relate to their not-too-distant past through these thematic toys.
Raw material used is soft sander wood, Tella (white) Poniki in Telugu, and the botanical name Givotia rottleriformis which is grown in the surrounding forest. Earlier private plantations of lanco also provided this wood.
The wood becomes very light after drying. Parts of the toy are carved separately and assembled using acacia gum. Makku which is a paste made from tamarind seed powder, sawdust, and acacia gum is used to smoothen out the wood and add features. The process of drying is repeated after carving to remove moisture over firewood smoke and then dipped in kerosene for preservation. The toy is coloured with natural dyes, enamel, or water colours depending on the item. Women are actively involved in painting the toys.
Themes of epic characters and tales, animals, birds, rural life, Dasavatara are popular, while also adapting to new and contemporary concepts. Some of the natural colours used are extracted from moduga puvvu, Jabra roots, mangista roots, tangedu leaves, turmeric, toddy palm jaggery. The toys are light in weight, safe and eco friendly. Cooperative societies market the products in India and abroad.
Kondapalli fort, which is part of the local landscape, was built in the 14th century during the Reddy dynasty. The fort which also houses a museum has relics of the place, and a digital display of Kondapalli toys and references to its history. In the village, one can experience the ambience of artisans at work and colourful rows of shops on either side of the road, each relating their own story.
Trekking through these hills has become a popular sport among the locals and watching thousands of butterflies that fill the pathway. A sight to be seen. This area has an amphitheatre with sound and light depicting its history. One can go through time and see artefacts housed in the museum in the fort.
Artisan names and numbers:
Nageswara Rao 9347660234
Surya Prakash 9963238658
Durga Prasad 9030521228
Sesha Rao 9963238656
Sai 8523082132
Srikalahasti wood craft: Colourful yet intricate
Accessorise your home with wall brackets, over the door panels, or find that beautifully carved deity for the Puja room or wooden containers to store salt or tamarind all made by the wood carvers of Srikalahasti and to know more just read on….
If you are a first time traveller through Chittoor district, the places that would catch your attention are the temples, especially, Tirupati Temple nestled in the Tirumala hills, water falls, hill stations, Horsley Hills to name one, and close to the famous Srikalahasti temple you will find the famous pen Kalamkari industry, an extinct glass bead works of Papanaidupeta, the street still exists where one can see women stringing beads and wood crafts.
Wood craft is an ancient and popular craft practised in Srikalahasti, Chittoor district. This art is mainly concentrated in Madhavamala (toys), Srikalahasti, Tirupati and M.Puttoor. Different types of wood such as teak, Burma teak, neem, red and white sanders, mango, rosewood and jackfruit wood are used for carving. Around 300 families depend on the craft which has been passed down generations. The raja rani made in red sanders is a collectors item. Yalis are very popular these days.
Chittoor products vary from small toys to huge idols and panels. Practised in Srikalahasti and surrounding towns, the wood is sourced from nearby forests. Soft and light wood is used to make toys as in Kondapalli. What distinguishes Chittoor wood craft from others is that the carving is painted with different colours to enhance the features and patterns. Despite innovation, the artisans still use the traditional chisel, mallet and brushes to keep their craft authentic, and for such talent, awards are not a surprise. G Satyanarayana and brothers, who are the pioneers of this art at Srikalahasti have bagged National Awards. Late G Satyanarayana, won the National Award in 1994 for his work ‘Radha Krishna in the Cradle’. G Balakrishna won the same in 1995 for ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ whereas G Balaji bagged the award for his work ‘SriKalahasti Temple Gali Gopuram’ in 1996. All these were carved on Burma teak. Similarly, EP Satyam, Sekarachari also won National Awards, while Ravi Achari, Bhaskarachari and Rangachari have secured state awards.
Name of artisan and phone number
Sri Prasad Babu
9550133013
Kadapa woodcraft
For the past 100 years, around 300 families of Settigunta and Lakshmigaripalle villages, about 110 kms away from the district headquarters in Kadapa, in Railway Koduru mandal have been making a living by carving artefacts and toys out of wood, especially red sander and teak. Their craft, which is passed on from one generation to the other, have earned them global fame and their products are still in demand in both local and international markets. Even Bill Clinton, former US president, had bought a wooden statue of Shakuntala made by the Kadapa woodcarvers during his visit to Hyderabad.
The finished products are sold at pilgrim centres like Tirupati, Tirumala, and Srikalahasti etc. Sri Venkateswara Institute of Traditional Sculpture and Architecture, Tirupati is the one and only institute of its kind in Andhra Pradesh imparting training in traditional Sculpture in wood, metal, stone, clay etc. For details visit https://www.tirumala.org/SVISTA.aspx
Artisan name and number:
Vamsi (Srikalahasti)
9666580183
Etikoppaka toys
The memories that these toys bring and still continue to spread joy and learning to children is priceless. Here is the story of Etikopakka, one of the prides of Andhra Pradesh.
One of the toys that most children could wish for is ‘lakkapidathalu’ or kitchen set made of ankudu wood. Etikoppaka is a small village located at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats is about 80 km from Visakhapatnam and on the banks of the Varaha River. The craft has a 400 year history around the Bahmani times and almost went extinct by the year 1985, when Uzra Bilgrami fondly known as Uzramma – founder of Dastkar Andhra and Malkha, gave the much needed impetus.
Ankudu chetlu (trees) grown in abundance in the region is a medium soft wood and used for making functional items like measuring containers to chariots, bharinalu (boxes) to toys, is a centuries old journey which began in Nakkapalli and later moved to Etikoppaka.
Etikoppaka is named after Koppa Raja Narayana from the Chalukya Dynasty (1300-1600 CE). Details of origin are recorded in the first ever telugu travelogue published in 1838 namely the ‘Kasi Yatra Charitra’
https://youtu.be/6BjwBD-llPkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BjwBD-l
Like most crafts, Etikoppaka too passed down from one generation to the next. Sri Chinnayachari, a miniature artist and recipient of President’s Award, is one such craftsman who learnt since his childhood, and became a full fledged artisan at a young age and faced all the challenges bravely. While his father was a lathe puller and mother a painter, he was fortunate to work on a mechanised lathe. The difference being the manual lathe could carve in one direction only, but the motorised lathe could be operated both clockwise and anticlockwise. He also trained under C.V. Raju on how to use natural dyes. The struggles of Etikoppaka, to survive and sustain itself as a craft, can be ascribed to Shri Chinnayachari.
The pandemic saw a downturn in the market and craftsmen who once numbered 350 left for other jobs, as a result, only 150 artisans were left to continue with the craft. It was then that Chinnayachari decided to train women and give them employment as he realised that they were more dedicated and disciplined. With the support of CCT and CCAP he managed to have a building and employ 35 to 40 women. He has plans to train 100 women and make them into a self-reliant society in future. From a craft which was solely male-driven for centuries can now hope for a new beginning when women too join, preserve and celebrate the craft.
Notable among the revivers of Etikoppaka Sri C. V. Raju worked for more than three decades with the craft community, be it negotiating with the forest dept to ensure plantation and availability of ankudu trees or his experiments with natural colours and innovations. NID, Ahmedabad has documented his innovations and research. He focussed on strengthening the traditional, local knowledge of making vegetable dyes, developing new tools and techniques for increasing their shelf life and generating new uses for them.
Etikoppaka toys are soft and rounded child-friendly, and vibrantly coloured using lac, and natural dyes. The village has many shops as well as a cooperative society for marketing. Some of the popular items sold are kumkum bharani, cow, bangles, earrings, spinning tops etc.
Artisan names and numbers:
Prasad babu 9701057267
Chinnayachari 9959512198
Satyanarayana 9533953639
Ramana babu 7330725899
