Balaramapuram: The Weaving Hamlet With A Rich Heritage And Global Fame

Balaramapuram handloom products are very famous. This small hill hamlet near the historic city of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, is known for the tradition that revived the lives of 1800 tribal women 38 years ago. Balaramapuram has a story of centuries of clothing traditions to tell. The story of a common man in a weaving village that rose to world-class, with time.

Balaramapuram is a village panchayat in Neyyattinkara taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district. It is a part of Nemom Block Panchayat. Balaramapuram is considered to be the most important market after the Chalai Market in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Balaramapuram, founded in the name of Thirunal Balarama Varma, has an area of about ten kilometres in circumference. Weaving activities in this cluster began in the early 19th century during the reign of his highness Balarama Varma, the Maharaja of the princely state of Travancore. It was his effort to bring families of weavers from Tamil Nadu and settle them in special streets in Balaramapuram and provide initial financial assistance to these weavers to start a business.

According to reports, seven families of weavers (Shaliars) from Tamil Nadu to produce fabrics for the members of the royal family were brought by the Maharaja’s Dalava to weave cloth for the royal family members. The Shaliars settled in an area now known as Shaliars Street, and many of the current residents are descendants of these original seven families.

The market was opened at a convenient location for the weavers to facilitate the sale of their goods. The weavers of Balaramapuram use traditional throw-shuttle pit looms. Balaramapuram handloom’s fame crossed the seas and reached other countries as the clothes made and designed changed with the changing times.

According to the latest report, now 5 per cent of the houses in Balaramapuram run agencies for handloom items. These houses act as collecting points for handloom clothes produced in the area. 9 per cent of houses do not have any home-based activity. 27 per cent of houses use traditional means of production, whereas 59 per cent are based on new methods.

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