Art and Handicraft in Lashawadeep Island

Before the 7 th century, the population of Lakshadweep comprised mainly of the Hindus who were later converted to Islam. This explains the cultural mingling of art and crafts in Lakshadweep. Culturally, the people of Lakshadweep resemble very much with the Keralites. This finds reflection in Lakshadweep arts and crafts too.

The costume of the Lakshadweep women include embroidered jacket that reflects the handicraft of Lakshadweep. Folk ballads singing of the historical past is common during household occasions and festivities. Themes include the coming of Hazrat Ubaidullah in Lakshadweep, the ransack of the islands under the Portuguese. Kolkali, Dandi, Parichakali, Fuli, Thara, Bandiya and Lava Dance are famous art forms in practice in Lakshadweep. Thus, arts and crafts in Lakshadweep are a colorful conglomeration in a large variety.

The typical topography pf Lakshadweep makes it a treasure house of shells, corals and oysters. Crafts of Lakshadweep mainly include items made of these. Other crafts include those made of coconut shells and tortoise shells. A variety of handicrafts most of which are used for decorative purposes and some other for household use reflect the art and craft in Lakshadweep. The best places to buy them are beach shops or try any roadside stall. The chunky jewelry that these colorful people use also bears the mark of the arts and crafts of the archipelago of Lakshadweep.

The people are very colorful and this gets reflected in their use of color in every walk of life. Painting their houses, boats and even furniture are practiced, especially in Minicoy. In fact, villages in Minicoy have a definite color for each of them and all houses of that particular village are in this particular color. Replicas of boats painted in bright hues are also used for decorating homes.