Koyambedu artisan Muniyammal adapts traditional bridal floral braids for modern trends
Muniyammal, a 53-year-old floral artisan at the Koyambedu flower market in Chennai, is keeping the traditional Tamil craft of making 'poo jadai' (bridal floral hair braids) alive by adapting her techniques to modern bridal trends. Operating from Sri Ayyappan Flower Stall, Muniyammal has spent 48 years crafting these intricate floral arrangements, transitioning from strictly traditional natural materials to modern embellishments like foam, beads, and bamboo.
Muniyammal entered the profession at the age of five following the early death of her father. To support her family, she began learning the craft of pulling thread, tucking buds, and arranging petals. In her early years, the traditional braids were made primarily of flowers like kanakambaram and mullai, layered on mantharai leaves.
Over the decades, the materials used in the craft have evolved significantly. About 10 years ago, Muniyammal shifted from using mantharai leaves to bamboo bases. The bamboo provides better structural support and prevents the flowers from staining due to moisture and soil.
Similarly, the traditional natural fibre, or naar, used for stitching has largely been replaced by a Malaysian thread-like material called narambu. According to Muniyammal, narambu does not get dirty easily and provides a neater finish to the floral braids.
In response to modern customer demands, many of whom bring designs they find on the internet, Muniyammal has integrated new ornaments into her work. These include miniature bride-and-groom dolls, which she purchases for Rs 40 from Bangalore and Mysore, as well as lotus-shaped decorations made from foam. Depending on the requested design, she stitches four to six dolls onto a single braid.
Each poo jadai requires meticulous attention to detail, taking Muniyammal about one and a half hours to complete. Her stall remains stocked with a mix of traditional materials like jasmine mottu, roses, nandiyavattai, mullai poo, and banana sheath, alongside contemporary plastic boxes filled with golden beads and colourful embellishments.
Other industry professionals in Chennai also note this shift toward modern materials. Makeup and hair stylist Gayathri Ashok Kumar observed that while older designs relied on natural fibres, flowers, and dry fruits like almonds and walnuts, modern brides prefer decorative beads, accessories, and waterproof bases. Additionally, local brands have begun replicating real flowers using foam and tissue paper to meet the growing demand for reusable bridal hair pieces.
