Chennai, July 2 (HS)

Thammampatti wood carving, a signature work of artisans in Salem region, is set to become Tamil Nadu's 36th geographical indication (GI) product. Thammampatti is a village in Gangavalli Taluk of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. The village is situated between Pachaimalai and Kolli Hills.

The GI registry's recognition for the unique wood-carved idols of Hindu gods, mythological events and stories, door designs, door panels and temple doors comes on a joint application by Silpa Gramam Thammampatti Wood Carver's Artisans Welfare Association and Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Poompuhar).

The artisans use woods such as thoongavaagai found in agricultural lands, vaagai (albizzia lebbek) which has a natural lustre, mavilangai (crataeve roxburch) which grows on edges of rivers and lakes, atti (ficus glometrea) and teak. As for the proof origin and history of the product, the registry was informed that the 'Oddar' community has attained mastery in the wood carving art and the intricate technical knowledge is passed down to generations of wood carvers by legacy. It has been thriving in Salem area for more than 75 years, and Thammampatti Shri Ugra Kathali Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy's temple car was made by them in 1948.

The entire process of the artwork is environment friendly as the exposure to chemicals is minimal. Even the seasoning of the wood is also done in a natural manner by exposing it to various climatic conditions.

Hindusthan Samachar/ S Vishnu Sharma