Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

•  Karuppur kalamkari paintings and the Kallakurichi wood carvings, from Tamil Nadu recently received the geographical indication (GI) tags.
• GI Tag is given to products that have a specific place of origin and have a reputation because of their geographical origin.

                      Image source:The Indian Express

Kalamkari Paintings

• Kalamkari means creating something with a ‘kalam’, or a brush.
• These are done in Karuppur and its surrounding villages in Ariyalur district, and Thanjavur district. Documentary evidence shows that kalamkari paintings evolved under the patronage of Nayaka rulers in the early 17th century.
•  Kalamkari paintings are done on pure cotton cloth, predominantly used in temples for umbrella covers, cylindrical hangings, chariot covers and asmanagiri (false ceiling cloth pieces).
•  Pens or brushes are made out of bamboo tree and coconut tree stems. The artists wind a cloth around the twig around it and then dip it in the dye, which they make themselves. 
•  Dyes for the cloth are always extracted from naturally colour producing agents such as roots, leaves, and mineral salts of iron, tin, copper, and alum. The usage of cow dung, seeds of various kinds, plants and crushed flowers are also used to get effects in the paintings.

Originally the kalamkari art specifically depicted Hindu epics tales of Ramayana and Mahabharata but in recent times it is also used to depict Buddha and Buddhist art forms.       

       Kallakurichi Wood Carvings

•  Kallakurichi wood carvings are a unique form of wood carving that involves the application of ornamentation and designs, derived from traditional styles by the craftsmen.
• Craftsmen are specialised in carving temple-related items & also furniture, using traditional designs.
•  The woodcarving skill evolved as an indigenous art when Madurai was an important town under different monarchical regimes in the ancient times.
•  In the course of time, woodcarving craftsmen migrated to other towns and places, and each of them evolved their own style like the Kallakurichi woodcarving.
•  Kallakurichi wood carvings are mainly practised in Kallakurichi, Chinnaselam and Thirukkovilur taluks in Kallakurichi district.