And because the nut floats in water, it is also used as a floating device for children learning to swim in rivers. A piece of he fibrous husk is partially torn from two coconuts and tied together to make these floation devices. The outer fibrous husk of the nut is the raw material for coir. The preparation of Coir is a lengthy process. The fibrous layer of the nut is separated from the hard shell by driving the fruit down onto a spike to split it. The coconut husks are soaked in streams for several days and the softened husk is beaten with mallets against slabs of woods to separate the fiber from the husk. Cleaned fiber is spun into yarn. The major use of coir is in rope manufacture. Coir is also used in the manufacture of brushes, doormats, rugs, and twine. Coir-foam, rubberized coir, is used to make mattresses and pillows. Coir industry occupies a unique place among the rural traditional cottage industries in India. Kerala is the largest producer of Coir in India accounting for more than 75% of the total production.

Coconut oil is considered excellent nourishment for hair; it keeps long tresses of Kerala women black, healthy and glossy. Coconut, coconut oil, coconut water as well as coconut palm leaves are used in Ayurveda, Indian herbal medicine. In home remedies too the oil has its place of prominence. Coconut oil heated with a couple of unbroken dry hot chili peppers is considered a cure for ear ache. From sprains to swellings a sure cure in my home town is an herbal coconut oil. The herbal formula for this oil is a family secret - only one person in a certain family prepares this oil in our village, that too only on Tuesdays and Fridays. The herbal formula remains a secret with her until she passes it on to someone else in the next generation. She never charges anything for preparing it; anyone could take a bottle of coconut oil to her home, onTuesdays and Fridays only of course, And the reddish herbal oil would be ready for pick up by the same evening.

Kerala is a long strip of land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Forty four rivers with their tributaries and feeders run across this land like the arteries and veins of the land. Backwaters, lakes and ocean inlets are reservoirs of water stretching along the coast and they are fed by these rivers. Rain water from the two monsoons flows down through these rivers to the sea. The tropical warm climate, large net work of rivers, lakes and lagoons and abundant rainfalls make Kerala’s landscape the ideal environment for growing coconut palms. Coconut palms love the sun and heat and they compete for direct sunlight- the secret behind the curvy palm trunks we see on picture postcards.

Coconuts require about a year to develop and are produced regularly throughout the year. In Kerala coconuts are still harvested manually. Skilled climbers go up the palms, a curved knife tucked around their waist and their feet loosely tied together in coir ropes, to harvest the nuts. It is fascinating to watch the dexterity with which they move up the branchless palm.

Comparatively little is known about the origin and early distribution of this palm; probably because it was so wide spread many years ago. The coconut palm is typically found along tropical sandy shorelines around the world. It is believed that coconut palm is native to the Malay Archipelago or the South Pacific. It was spread largely by man but also by natural means. The nut floats for long distances on water for months and still germinate to form new palms when washed ashore. Whether coconuts were transplanted or they washed ashore years ago from distant lands, the fundamental attitude of reverence, respect and gratitude toward this nut of life still remains unabated in Kerala.