Kannadippaya:
Kannadippaya, a traditional tribal handicraft from Kerala, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- “Kannadippaya” (meaning ‘mirror mat’) originates from its distinct reflective design.
- It is woven using reed bamboo’s soft inner layers, which give it remarkable thermal properties—it provides warmth in winter and a cooling effect in summer.
- It is primarily crafted by tribal communities such as the Oorali, Mannan, Muthuva, Malayan, and Kadar tribes, along with Ulladan, Malayarayan, and Hill Pulaya artisans in the Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Palakkad
- The finest Kannadippaya is made from Teinostachyum wightii, locally known by various names such as Njoonjileetta, Njoojoora, Ponneetta, Meieeta, and Neytheetta.
- Other bamboo species, like Ochlandra sp. (locally called Kareetta, Pereetta, Velleeta, Chitoora, and Kanjoora), are also used.
- Kannadippaya is the first tribal handicraft from Kerala to receive a GI tag.
