Oddly satisfying footage from southern India shows artisans weaving baskets by hand out of palm leaves.

Traditionally the leaves are harvested in the month of April and May and left to dry under sunlight.

The artisans then get to work interlacing the pliable leaves until they finally have a basket of the required size and shape.

The majority of basket weavers in southern India are women, although some men also dedicate themselves to the craft.

The finished articles are generally used for storing food and grain.

This footage was captured in the Kovilpatti Tuticorin district of Tamilnadu State in December 2021.

Location: Kovilpatti Tuticorin district of Tamilnadu State in South India.

The Palmyra palm grows in abundance along the southern coastline of the Indian peninsular from Cochin to Madras. The tree on the whole is extremely useful to the inhabitants of this area.

The pliable, tender Palmyra leaf has good structural strength, so it is used to make decorative Olai (leaf) baskets. The tender new leaf is taken for making basket as it is soft, liable and ivory-colored.


The palm leaves are harvested in the month of April and May and left to dry under sunlight for a day. The dried leafs are stored in places where it doesn’t come in contact with water. The dried palm leaves are washed with plain water and the excess water is rinsed.

Before weaving, the basket water is sprinkled on the strips to keep them moist and avoid breakages while weaving. Based on the required size of the basket the palm stripes are arranged vertically and horizontally interlocking each other. Over that a wooden slab is placed on it and held with hands and feet for support. Once the base is weaved the strips are bent and the sidewalls of the baskets are interlaced and weaved till the required length.

Mainly women artisans are engaged in making these baskets. The baskets making are done in a traditional way. The woven baskets are used for the purpose of storing food and grains.