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
Jeseri
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
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
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
Koka
Some of the Agatti fishers nodded towards the horizon, murmuring, “Look, it's the koka police gearing up for their sea patrol.” Puzzled, I ...
Koka
Sea Cucumber
Kaṭaleṟacci
The term is a combination of two words; ‘Kaṭal’ which means sea, and ‘Eṟacci’, the local word for meat. Thus, the literal meaning of the term ...
Kaṭaleṟacci
Dolphin
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
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
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 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
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
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