Chettinad Kottan

Kottans are traditional baskets weaved from dried palm leaves in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. The palm leaves are dried in the sun for a week till they become brown in color. The individual leaflets are separated from the stalk by hand with the central veins removed using a needle like instrument called "satyaagam". The leaflets are soaked in water to soften them and cut according to the required sizes. Organic dyes are used to color the leaves. The palm strips are woven into an intricate pattern by hands. The rims are lined with multiple layers for increased strength and the corners are threaded to hold them in place.^[3][4]