Kamaladevi Chattopadhaya was one of the eminent daughters of India and she did much for the country through the Crafts Council of India all her life. The Crafts Council of Tamilnadu (CCTN) is part of the Crafts Council of India and is headquartered at Coimbatore. A number of women from a society known for its aesthetics and fine interest in crafts and art are part of the same. Over the years the CCTN has done much to promote the crafts of this region. They have motivated the stone cutters of Thirumuruganpoondi and olai bird makers of Uthukuli among many others. The members have participated in several international events over the years. They have done a lot by sponsoring craft workshops, craft bazaars and events at schools in order to create awareness among the younger generation. They do their best by promoting sale of arts and crafts by being the best of patrons.
The Crafts Council of Tamilnadu did the marvelleous event "PUSHPANJALI" some years ago and the outcome has really inspired the people of this region to do their best with flowers. The floral decorations at Coimbatore are among the best in India and our Poo Market or Flower Market can do miracles in a short span of time. PUSHPANJALI took the flower work of Coimbatore to an altogether different scale and today a lot of value addition has taken place in this arena due to the same. Groups of flower weavers from Coimbatore, Srirangam and Srivilliputtur congregated at the venue and did their best. They made wonderful flower garlands, flower jewellery, flower mats and decorative wall hangings made of flowers. The flower weavers had show cased their talent by using flowers like Vadamalli, Malli Poovu (Jasmine), Marigolds, Lotus, Tuberoses, Orchids, Carnations, Button Chrysanthemums, Spray Chrysanthemums and lots of green foliage. The participants used their best skills and they literally demonstrated the magic that was possible with their hands. Some of the decorations looked like ornaments while some ornaments made out of flowers looked like flowers itself. Odiyanams (Girdles) made of flowers were made along with many other ornaments made of flowers.
The Flower Weavers like Muthuperumal from Tirunelveli had created a prayer mat which looked like as though it was made of reeds rather than flowers. His elders had been patronised by the rulers who had given them lands that were used to cultivate flowers for the temples. Flowers have been in use for adornment and prayers from time immemorial all over the world. India particularly uses a lot of flowers for prayers. The deities in the temples and the processional vehicles of the deities are decked with flowers. The wedding pandal and the cradles of the child are decorated with flowers. The newly wed couples spend their first wedding night in a room decorated with flowers. Women of all ages use different flowers for different occasions. The "Jadai Alangarams" (floral decoration on the plait) of the past used to be family events. The picture of the smiling girl with her lovely plait with floral decorations was part of every household. Andal and her garlands are part of lore and the five flowers adorning Lalitha Tripurasundari gives us a spiritual connection with flowers. Mother Mira's book on flowers contiunues to be popular. The story of Rukmini, Sathyabhama, Krishna and the the Parijatha flower are too well known. The flowers in the quiver of Lord Kama - the God of Love are said to create seasons and moods in any place or time. He normally moves around in a chariot drawn by parrots. While Shiva is offered Vilvam, Vishnu is fond of Tulsi. Goddess Lakshmi who is also known a Dravina is ever fond of the Lotus and she is ever present in the place that nourishes the flower and blesses the caretaker with abundance. The festival of Onam is celebrated with the Pookolam all around the world. The Thiruppavai by the Poetess Divine Andal is known as the garland of verses which are as fragrant as the flowers. The fragrance of the jasmine is said to be captivating.
The Art of Floral Offerings - Pushpanjali was inaugurated those days by Dr.Mridhubashini Govindarajan and the event was graced by Usha Krishnan (Crafts Council Of India) and Uma Kannan of Madurai. The idea of Pushpanjali was incubated under the guidance of Kamala Sivasubramaniam a patron of arts and crafts for decades. A lot of work was put in by the President of CCTN Sujani Balu, Saranya Ramkumar (Vice President), Lakshmi Ramachandran (Secretary). A lot of inputs were provided by Nagaswarnam Lakshminarayanaswamy and Renu Sampath. A number of others who helped out in a big way included P.Gopalakrishna, S.Gurumoorthy, Manorama Mandradiar, Sabitha Chandran, Shankar Vanavarayar, Srivalli Krishnaswamy, Ramalakshmi Ethirajulu, Venkatalakshmi Silesh, Visalakshi Sundaram, Hemalatha Khona, Dhanalakshmi Jayachandran, S.Nirmala, G.Aravindakumari and Shyamala Shekhar. Indira Venkataswamy and Vijayalakshmi Rudrappan did their best by co ordinating and bringing in experts from all around.
The inauguration was done those days by unveiling the Tube rose curtain. Several beautiful Nila Malais, Thoranams, Venis, garlands, works of Janur art, crowns and parrots made of flowers, Chandrashekhara Gurukkal of Pattuvaithalai created idols of Ambal, Lakshmi and Narayana as per the custom according to which he had followed specific measurements. It was fabricated over a bamboo structure and the idol was mounted on a wooden pole fixed to a wooden base. The Goddess was adorned with a Thazhampoo (screwpine) pavadai and her head gear was made of Sampangi (tuberose) and Marugu (green leaves from aromahi). She was also decorated with a Jadai Alangaram. (a plait made with the same flowers stitched on an arecanut sheath). Chandrashekhara Gurukkal belongs to a family of mock sandal paste idol makers. The idol of Lakshmi was dressed with "Rakkadi" and "Poojadai".
The Andal Malai was another favourite along with a traditional idol which was dressed with floral adornments. Flower chokers, parrots from Palani, Srirangam and Srivilliputtur added to the beauty of the place along with the kolu which was as per tradition. The Janur Art display was quite unique and the organisers had taken special care to display it well. A lot of Buddhist floral offerings were on display too. Thai, Cambodian and Hawaiian techniques were seen too. All these and much more gave an impression about the travel, life style, aesthetics, maturity and refinement of the members of the Crafts Council of Tamilnadu. Workshops and sharing of techniques were also part of the program.
Traditional flower craftsmen Raviraj, Muthu, Shanmugham, Sulaiman, Kaliappan, A.Murugan, Babu, Gnanavel, Appu, Subramaniam, Mustafa, Selvam, Kumar, Pandian, Palaniswamy, Shanker, Moorthy, Annamalai, Adurus, Ram, Karuppiah, Karuppuswamy, Nagaraj and Peryaswamy had done their best. A number of kids had adorned the floral jewellery and they were much admired by the visitors of the time. Now they must have grown up to be pretty damsels.
One of the Venis made using folded pink arali petals (Pink Oleander), Gundu Malli and Zari Roses looked stunning. An Andal Malai made like strawberries which was designed by Sunitha Kumar resembled strawberries. Another Veni made with yellow button Chrysanthemum buds looked fabulous. Malais were also made of Ixora flowers and Nandyavattam buds by the craftsmen. The Cock's comb and green Casuarina were also used in a beautiful manner. The whole effort by the members of the Crafts Council of Tamilnadu was a treat to the people of Coimbatore and it was a tribute to the creativity, entrepreneurship and charitable disposition of the people of the region. The efforts of the members of the Crafts Council of Tamilnadu were really appreciated and accoladed by Usha Krishnan, President of the Crafts Council of India and Uma Kannan of the Thyagarajar Institutions of Madurai. The unstated display of beauty, aesthetics, creativity and elegance at the PUSHPANJALI will be spoken by the lovers of arts and crafts for the times to come.