Kannadippaya (Bamboo Mat) of Kerala
Context:
At the Tribal Business Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, the Kannadippaya (Bamboo Mat) of Kerala was one of the products that received a Geographical Indication (GI) certificate
This recognition is part of a broader government effort to enhance market access, brand value, and national visibility for tribal products
About Kannadippaya
It is a lesser-known, exquisite mat woven by tribal communities in the Western Ghats range in Kerala
The name is a portmanteau of Kannadi (meaning "mirror" in Malayalam) and Paya(meaning "mat"), referring to the optical illusion of tessellating geometric squares in its design.
It is woven from ultra-thin and shiny slivers of a specific reed bamboo species (Teinostachyum wightii) endemic to the deep forests of the region.
The age-old skill is possessed almost entirely by elderly women from tribal communities (such as the Muthuvar, Urali, Mannan, Malayar, and Kadar.)
Significance:
In the era of monarchs, the Kannadippaya, often stored in a decorative bamboo cylinder and was considered a royal mat and a gift fit for a king.
It was also used for community ceremonies
Tribal communities traditionally used the mats to sleep on, believing they have health benefits (including warding off rheumatism and back pain)
Efforts have been made by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) to secure the GI tag to protect the intellectual property of the tribal women
About GI Tag Recognition:
The GI registration application for Kannadippaya covers the districts of Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Palakkad
The government has reduced the application fee for Geographical Indication (GI) tags by 80% (from ₹5,000 to ₹1,000)
This is to encourage more tribal products to be registered and to preserve India's heritage.