The street of coconut leaf weavers

MADURAI: Thennolaikara Theru is a place of quietness and old-world charm, despite being nestled against chaotic city roads. The main road branches out into three lanes, which are immaculately kept. Instead of commercial buildings which have become the usual sight in many streets of the old city, residential buildings fill the place. Many of these houses are concrete structures.But during ancient times, when thatched roofs dominated the scene, Thennolaikara Theru used to be an important place of business. "Thennolai" means coconut leaves, and the street used to harbor workers and artisans who weaved coconut leaves for thatched houses.
92-year-old M V Mani who owns a utensils renting shop in adjacent Chinnakadai street narrates the legend. It is believed that during the Nayak era or earlier, there were many people living in Thennolaikara Theru who used to provide thatches of weaved coconut leaves. Besides the weavers, there were also people who were experts at thatching houses, he said.
"Most houses in those days were thatched houses in fringes of city areas and there was always demand for coconut leaf thatches. Even when I was young, many houses in city were either thatched ones or tiled houses", he recalled.
However, he has not encountered anyone making thatched roofs in the Theru during his days. "But there were few people who used to take up 'bhandal' contracts who lived in the street," he said. Most residents were from Thevar community in those days but street has a mixed population now, he commented. P M Muruganandam, 45, remarks that he may be the last one of bandhal contractors in that street. And the story is similar to that of many streets which have lost their unique flavour as history took its course. "Many migrated over the period and there are all sorts of communities living together here," he said.
Although the coconut leaf weavers have vanished over time, the street still has its fair share of artisans. Instead of house builders, temple builders throng the place now as craftsmen specialized in creating stucco works are plenty available in the area. According to Muruganandam, there are at least 30 artisans in the street who make objects like the figures we see on temple towers. "They are always in demand as people are constantly building and renovating temples here," he said.