Thanjavur Netti works, Arumbavur wood carvings of Tamil Nadu receive the prestigious GI tag

Thanjavur Netti Works (pith works) and Arumbavur wood carvings, hailing from central Tamil Nadu, have now earned the Geographical Indication Tag by the GI registry.
The Geographical Indication (GI) tag is given to the products exclusive to a specific geographical area in India in order to prevent the misuse of their popularity of the products by other persons.

Sanjay Gandhi, an expert in Intellectual Property and Counsel for Thanjavur Netti Works and Arumbavur Wood Carvings told the press that the GI tag application was submitted by the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar), Government of Tamil Nadu in 2013. Proper research and study was conducted with the artisans belonging to Thanjavur and Perambalur villages.

Thanjavur Netti Works (Thanjavur Pith Work) is crafted from Netti (pith), a marshy plant known as Aeschynomene Aspera. Being a traditional craft, it has been handed down from one generation to another. Netti Works are visible in the Brihadeeswara Temple, garlands, idols of Hindu deities, door hangings and decorative items. The pith work industry has been recognised as one of the significant handwork symbols.

Netti works are produced in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Pudukkottai. Due to their fragile nature, the Pith works are kept inside a glass box to preserve them well.

On the other hand, the Arumbavur wood carvings made by the artisans of Perambalur are mainly made out of wooden logs of lingam tree, mango, Indian ash tree, neem and rosewood tree. The wood supply comes from the Pachamalai Hills along the Trichy - Perambalur boundary and the Thanjavur - Kumbakonam zone.

The USP of Arumbavur work is that the whole object is carved out of a single block of wood due to the reason that even one mistake can damage the whole work.