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 City
dwellers are not much aware of the heritage of South India. However,
one need not go all the way to the four states to witness them. They
are under one roof in Muttukadu, near Chennai.
Dakshina Chitra is a centre for the living traditions of Art, Folk
Performing arts, Craft and architecture of India with an emphasis on
the traditions of South India. It is a project of the Madras Craft
Foundation (MCF) and was established in 1996.
The aim of Dakshina Chitra is to preserve,
promote and communicate the rich cultural heritage of South India
through the exhibition of heritage houses, workshops, folk
performances and the craft shop and craft bazaar.
One can witness the traditional Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh houses here. In the Chettinad
house, there are the old thinnais and depiction of Tamil culture
including old Tamil script. One can also see the traditional game of
Tamil Nadu Pallanguzhi at this house.
 At
the Tirunelveli Brahmin house (Ambur village), different types of
lamps, bells and musical instruments used for pooja are displayed.
The house also showcases kitchen with the utensils, the Pooja room
and the main hall, where a Guru is found teaching Vedas to his
sishya. The entire Agraharam is reproduced at Dakshina Chitra.
There is an agriculturist’s house, displaying few
traditional Tamil farm implements like plough, leveller and iron
drum.
There are also houses of potter, mat weaver,
basket weaver and silk weaver. Pottery is usually associated with
the wheel used to make the pots. But, here there is no such wheel.
It is replaced by an electric machine. The potter teaches the
visitors to make a pot themselves and charges Rs 10 each. Many of
them, including foreigners are very much fascinated and want to try
their hand in pottery. The different Chakras used to spin cloth are
exhibited at the silk weaver’s house.
Apart from the houses, there are also artefacts
of old wooden chariot and bullock cart.
There are Hindu house, Syrian Christian house,
Puthupally house and Koothatukulam house of the neighbouring state
Kerala. All these houses are built of wood and one can have a look
at the various products including pooja items, kitchen wares and
Ayurvedic massage parlour.
Ikkat house (weaver’s house) and coastal Andhra
House of Andhra Pradesh and Ilkal house of Karnataka are also
exhibited. All these houses at Dakshina Chitra are the exact replica
of the corresponding houses, including the number of rooms, their
location and the different products displayed in these rooms.
 One
can also involve himself/herself in various activities like craft
making, basket weaving, pottery and toy making. They are charged
from Rs 5 to Rs 20, depending on the size and the activity involved.
One such crowd puller is the Kili josiyam and you can live your
astrologer dreams for a while!.
Apart from these, there are also shops selling
Palm Leaf paintings, Jewelleries from various materials and
colourful bags. Regular workshops, exhibitions and seminars are also
held at Dakshina Chitra.
The entrance ticket is Rs 50 for Indians
(Students need to produce their ID card to avail the concession) and
Rs 175 for tourists.
On the whole, a visit to Dakshina Chitra is an
entirely new experience foriegners and Chennaiites alike. |
