Floral art that glitters like gem

A timeless tradition of gemstone-like garlands thrives in Thovalai, as local artisans pass down their intricate floral craft across generations

- M ABDUL RABI @Kanyakumari

In the picturesque village of Thovalai, nestled in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, the fragrance of flowers blends with the rich heritage of a unique traditional craft—the Thovalai Maanikka Maalai. While this beautiful floral art recently gained wider recognition by securing the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, it has been the lifeline of generations of the Palani Pandaram family, who have kept it alive for over a century.

One of the leading torchbearers of this timeless craft is 40-year-old M T Vanitha Sree, a woman who is not only preserving her family's tradition but also expanding it to benefit others. Thovalai is well-known for its vibrant flowers, and Vanitha, along with her family, has been making these exquisite garlands for decades. Every day, she, along with her father M Muthumperumal and mother M Tamilarasi, meticulously crafts the Maanikka Maalai to be sent to the renowned Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala—a link that has existed for around 146 years, since 1845.