Vaikkol Chitrangal, made by pasting straw cut to different sizes on cloth or canvas to create images, is a typical craft item of
Kerala. This art form which requires artistic skills dates back to thousands of years. Every picture represents a straw mosaic created using countless pieces to depict an exclusive pattern. It is the cottage industry of vaikkol (straw) craftsmen. The craftsmen capture the fascinating scenes such as a small bird, a mythological figure, backwaters and the evening sky, vallomkali (boat race), village fairs and festivals, huts and hamlets, and hills and valleys. These straw pictures have great demand during festive occasions such as
Onam,
Christmas, and New Year, in the form of greeting cards. These cards are comparatively less expensive than others in the market. The straw pictures are available throughout the year in handicraft emporia all over the state.
