~ Sea lexicon ~

Stories Contributed by: Lakshmi Pradeep
Thengu

Thengu

Thengu or coconut trees are available in plenty and are the bounty of the Lakshadweep Islands. They are regarded as nature’s wealth for the ...

Thengu

Coconut Tree

Thanni – BARISHAM

Thanni – BARISHAM

Thanni or drinking water is a central concern on the Lakshadweep islands. Fresh water sources on the island were derived from ponds and wells ...

Thanni

Drinking Water

Odam

Odam

Odams are sewn boats that were used for navigation in the Lakshadweep Islands. The islanders (except residents of Minicoy) used these sailing ...

Odam

Boat

Mosa

Mosa

Tide or mosa is an everyday term on the island. In some islands, it is called moja. A movie that was made about Lakshadweep was titled Mosayile ...

Mosa

Tide

Mann

Mann

The Lakshadweep Islands are made of ‘bilutha mann’ (white sand). The corals sediment to form the white sand of the islands which are often ...

Mann

Sand

Kadal – Title for the Story

Kadal – Title for the Story

The island is surrounded by the sea or kadal. The sea on the eastern side of the island is furious compared to the calmer western side. The sea ...

Kadal

Sea

Kaattu – Wind

Kaattu – Wind

For Ikkakka, a seventy-year-old man from Kavaratti, the wind always floats around the island. He believes that it is the duty of the guardian ...

Kaattu

Wind

Choora – Title for the Story

Choora – Title for the Story

Choora or tuna, is the staple food of Lakshadweep Islands. A visitor to the island will be served a tuna curry, fry or the mas pickle that are ...

Choora

Tuna

Billam

Billam refers to the lagoon, a lively interactive space for the people of Lakshadweep. It has gathered much importance in the wider world on ...

Billam

Lagoon

Barisham – Title for the Story

Barisham – Title for the Story

Barisham is the Jeseri word for the south-western monsoon. The monsoon is considered a lifesaving boon for islanders of the Lakshadweep. The ...

Barisham

Monsoon

Bala

Bala

Although fishing in Lakshadweep is predominantly carried out through the pole and line method, nets or bala are traditionally used for bait fish ...

Bala

Net

Alakam

Alakam

Crabs are called alakam and hermit crabs are called komb in Jeseri spoken in many Lakshadweep islands. The crabs are referred to with a pronoun ...

Alakam

Crab