Beypore Uru applied for GI tag

For the renowned Beypore Uru, the District Tourism Promotion Council of Kozhikode has requested a Geographical Indication (GI) tag (boat).

Beypore Uru is a wooden dhow (ship, sailing boat, or vessel) that was handmade in Beypore, Kerala by expert craftsmen and carpenters.
They stand for Kerala’s friendship and business ties to the Gulf nations.
It is built entirely of high-quality wood without the use of any contemporary methods.
The timber is still sawed the old-fashioned way, which calls for enormous skill.
Each Uru must be built manually, which takes anywhere from one to four years.

Since the first century C.E., Beypore has been a renowned maritime trading centre for merchants from all over the world, according to historical documents.
Since almost 2000 years ago, the recognisable Uru ships have been in high demand.
The skillful locals known as Khalasis, who launched Uru canoes at Beypore, had a 2000-year tradition.
Odayis stands out among them as a notable individual. They oversee the technical aspects of manufacturing ships.
Their surname is derived from the word “odam,” which refers to a small ship that was once utilised for trading between the Malabar coast and Lakshadweep.
Since the bulk of them are Mappila Muslims, they are also known as Mappila Khalasis.