Jaderi Namakatti

Jaderi Namakatti-a holy clay stick, white in color and finger like structure is manufactured in the village of Jaderi of Tamil Nadu. Hindu especially Vaishnavites use Namakatti^[1]

Jaderi Namakatti is prepared in mass scale at Jaderi a village in Thiruvannamalai district. In Jaderi, more than 150 families are involved in the production of these clay sticks as a cottage industry. The selection of rock available near by area is a skill which makes namakatti to be rich deposited hydrous silicate.

The process of making Namakatti involves the following steps:^[2]

• Sourcing: The required white clay is sourced from calcium-rich white rocks found in the nearby Thenpundipattu panchayat.
• Processing: These rocks are quarried, ground into a fine powder, and soaked in water for two days.
• Refining: After soaking, the water and impurities are drained away.
• Molding: The white clay that settles at the bottom is collected and molded into sticks.
• Drying & Sale: These clay sticks are then dried in the sun and sold across the country.

In 2023, the Namakatti produced in Jaderi village was officially granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.^[3][4]

Namakatti is rich in calcium content. It is beneficial for the functioning of muscles and the nervous system. Additionally, it can be used to treat facial acne and blisters.^[5] Here are some common ways it is used in skincare:

• For Acne and Blisters: Namakatti is ground into a paste, mixed with rose water, and applied directly onto pimples and blisters.
• For Wrinkles: To reduce facial wrinkles caused by dryness, the paste can be applied to the face and then washed off.
• For Cooling: Applying this paste helps the face remain cool and refreshed for a long duration.