Address:
Badekottu, DAKSHINA KANNADA ,KARNATAKA - 574214
About type of art
Material culture of Koraga Tribe ,Koraga Basket Makers.Koragas are one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) found in the southern part of India, particularly in Karnataka and Kerala. Initially classified as a scheduled caste according to Government of India orders in 1936 and the Constitution Order of 1950, the Koraga community was officially recognized as a scheduled tribe only in the presidential order of 1956.
Basketry is the traditional occupation of the Koragas, who are considered one of the most primitive tribes residing along the Kerala-Karnataka border. They utilize various plant species to weave baskets of different names, sizes, and shapes. Presently, both the baskets and their creators face the threat of extinction due to changing socio-economic trends.
The Koraga tribe employs several plant species for weaving baskets, which could contribute to the conservation efforts aimed at preserving both the plants and the traditional craft. The baskets come in various kinds, each known by different names based on their shape, size, and purpose. Examples include "Thadpe," a flat basket used for cleaning paddy seeds (winnowing baskets), "Gobbaratha Kantya," a large basket for transferring manure, "Manna Kantya," a medium-sized basket for collecting and transferring soil, "Galakuruve," used for collecting arecanuts, "Kaikkuruve," a small basket, and "Kalasige," a basket used to measure grains, among others.