For over four generations, a family in Thovalai village near Kanyakumari has woven a unique type of garland called Manikka Malai, meaning ruby garland.

Muthamperumal is an elderly man in his sixties, who has worked with flowers since he was young. His home can always be seen filled with with baskets of white and pink arali flowers (Nerium oleander), marigolds and chrysanthemums. His fingers work like magic, and these colorful flowers come to life and look like gemstones sparkling in the light.

The trick is to weave five rows of arali flowers together, giving them ruby-like appearance. The family uses a special technique, and one can hardly see the petals or the thread in the garland.

Lord Padmanabha, the ruler of God’s own country, awaits the arrival of his floral gemstone studded garland. Everyday, a family in Thovalai, a village in Nagercoil, lovingly weaves an exquisite garland of flowers, arranged and strung to resemble resplendent gems, giving the garland the unique name - Manicka Mala. For over four generations, a family in this village has woven this unique type of garland called Manikka Malai, meaning ruby garland. And delivered it to distant Thiruvananthapuram, to adorn Lord Padmanabha.

Muthamperumal is an elderly man in his sixties, who has worked with flowers since he was young. His home can always be seen filled with with baskets of white and pink arali flowers (Nerium oleander), marigolds and chrysanthemums. His fingers work like magic, and these colorful flowers come to life and look like gemstones sparkling in the light.

The trick is to weave five rows of arali flowers together, giving them ruby-like appearance. The family uses a special technique, and one can hardly see the petals or the thread in the garland. Muthamperumal learned this art from his father when he was 6 years old, and his father learned the art from his grandfather. The art of weaving Manikka Malai has been passed on for generations, and the family has the privilege of weaving the garland for Lord Padmanabha in the Padmanabhapuram Temple at Thiruvananthapuram. Even his young granddaughter is a talented weaver.

Manikka Malai are generally 12 feet long, The flowers are generally arranged in five rows, though sometimes seven or eleven rows are used. The design is sketched on paper first, and then the flowers are counted and arranged precisely before knotting with the thread begins.