Kannadippaya or Mirror mat

Kannadippaya is a traditional handwoven mat made by tribal communities across Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Palakkad districts of Kerala. What sets it apart is its material—the soft inner layers of reed bamboo—and its unique weave that gives it a glass-like finish, which is how it earned the name “mirror mat.” Each mat takes weeks to complete and is typically 4 to 6 feet long. Originally used within the tribal households, this intricate craft was largely passed down by elder artisans.

Recently, this exceptional craft received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag—a huge milestone for the artisan communities. The GI tag was granted to Unarvu Pattikavargha Vividodesha Sahakarana Sangam, Venmani, and the Vanasree Bamboo Craft & Vanavibhava Shekarana unit, Moolakkad, Uppukunnu in Idukki—offering both market protection and international recognition to the art form.