Balaramapuram is famous for handloom products like Pudava, Kavani, Veshti and Sarees. No automatic machines are used manpower is mostly utilized. There are four main streets in this Panchayat. They are Single Street, Double Street, New Street and Vinayagar Street. Shaliyar Street is famous for weaving handloom products. This Street is mainly for the settlement of Shaliyar Community people who speak only Tamil and they marry with in their own community. It is during the reign of Maharaja Balaramavarma, from 1798 to 1810, handloom weaving was first introduced in Balaramapuram.

The house of Shaliyar weavers have rectangular layouts with houses sharing common walls. All the houses have production units attached and community well in the middle of a Street. Agasthiar temple is placed on the main street. The main deities are Muruga, Vinayaka, Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Ganapathy temple is in Vinayagar Street, where the male who completed the age of 18 must take membership in the temple committee.

The identical appearance of the design on both sides of the fabric is notable in weaving. Balaramapuram is famous for the production of traditional varieties of cloth wearing style of Kerala. The variety known as “Pudava and Kavani” still remains as a prestigious bridal gift in marriages. Festivals like Onam and Vishu are the busiest time of the year. One or two days take to weave a saree. Onam orders such as Kasavu saree, Set-mundu, Veshti, Pudava and kavani etc. Handloom Weavers Devolpment Soceity is head quartered in this Panchayat, works for the improving the welfare of handloom weaving communities in Kerala

Onam festivities, comprises the mundu and the neriyath. The mundu is the lower garment and neriyath is the upper garment. The body of the fabric is a creamy, off – white color and is bordered by a silk lining, called the Kara. Gold borders are known as KasavuKara, during the ancient time it would be made genuine gold and silver threads. The threads used for handloom weaving are thicker and are denser to weave. They feel softer and tend to last longer. The width of the Kasavu border, which can range between 1.3 and 15.3 cm, determines the price of the set-mundu.

Now a new concept introduced in this area is Ayurvastra. For coloring and fragrance to the products the raw materials used are herbs and plants. Studies prove that Ayurveda dress is a remedy for allergy and skin diseases.     

Article Posted By : Minijayan  On June 22, 2014lView All Articles

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Balaramapuram , Weavers