'One Station One Product': Visakhapatnam, Tirupati railway terminus to promote Etikoppaka, Kalamkari crafts

Andhra Pradesh: Artisans of Visakhapatnam and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh have embarked on a journey to promote local art and crafts. Under 'One Station One Product', each railway station will be converted into a promotional and sales hub for local arts and crafts.

The initiative was announced by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech.

Etikoppaka Toys in Vizag

Visakhapatnam is the first station in the East Coast Railway to implement the "One Station One Product". Under this initiative, Etikoppaka toys will be sold and promoted at the railway station. Waltair Division of East Coast Railway, in association with Etikoppakka Lacquer & Wooden Toys, launched the One Station One Product kiosk at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.

What is Etikoppakka?

Etikoppaka is 400-year-old toy-making art. Toys are made of Ankudi Karra (Wrightia tinctoria) Tree and coated with Lacquer color. Hundreds of local artisans of the Etikoppakka village Yellamachili Mandal are associated with the craft. The wooden toys are made with non-toxic and natural dyes derived from seeds, lacquer, bark, roots, and leaves. The art of toy making is known as Turned Wood Lacquer craft. Each toy reflects simple lives in villages. The product has got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from GIR in 2017.

It started with making play toys like 'lakkapidathalu,' (kitchen set), which are gifted to every child on his first birthday. Toys have become a part of wedding traditions. These are sold in weekly markets.

Kalamkari Textiles/ Wood carvings in Tirupati:

Tirupati Station in the Guntakal division became the first terminus in South Central Railways (SCR) to implement the 'One Station One Product' project.

Under the pilot project, one station from each Zone was chosen. Tirupati was chosen from SCR as it is the nearest alighting point to reach the world-famous Lord Balaji Temple. It witnesses the regular flow of rail passengers across all parts of the nation. The stall will have wooden carvings, Kalamkari sarees, and handicrafts.

What is Kalamkari art?

Kalamkari means pen art. It is the most beautiful traditional Indian art form, which involves block printing or hand printing on cotton fabrics. One of the unique features of the art is only natural colors or vegetable dyes are used. The artwork has come from Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti towns in the state. While the Machilipatnam style of kalamkari is featured with hand-carved blocks, the Srikalahasti style is freehand drawing. With beautiful color patterns, the designs often depict Hindu Mythology. Using only natural dyes, the dyed cloth is obtained by extracting colors from various roots and leaves and using cow dung, seeds, plants, and crushed flowers.

Alum is mainly used in making natural dyes to ensure the stability of the color in Kalamkari fabric. Many families of AP and migrants in Tamil Nadu have kept this art alive. They have passed it to generations.