Miniature dhows from Beypore make their way to Qatar World Cup

Source: The post is based on the article “Miniature dhows from Beypore make their way to Qatar World Cup” published in The Hindu on 12th November 2022

What is the News?

Kerala’s own Beypore Uru (yacht made of wood and coir) is all set to be a part of FIFA World Cup 2022.

Note: Beypore is an ancient port town located on the banks of the Chaliyar River in Kerala.

What is Beypore Uru?

An uru is a wooden dhow (ship) mainly made of Malabar teak in Beypore town of Kerala. It is probably the biggest handicraft in the world.

Origin: Uru making in Beypore is a centuries-old tradition that was established since India began its maritime trade with Mesopotamia.

Making process: Beypore urus are purely made of wood, without using any modern techniques, and traditional methods are used to launch this ship into the water. The carpenters manually join each piece of wood to build the large boat.

Artisans responsible for making Uru: The Khalasis are the traditional artisans responsible for the manufacture of the Uru. They are the ones who launch these urus into the water, setting them ready for travel. It takes at least four years and the effort of over forty Khalasis to build an Uru.