Clean sweep: How one village became Kerala’s broom capital

THODUPUZHA: What started as a desperate sales pitch during the pandemic has swept through the village of Neeloor, turning a quiet corner of Kerala into a literal "Broom Town." Here is the story of how Kandathimavu cleaned up its act and became Chool City.

During the height of COVID-19, a man named Rameshan (from Nagercoil) practically cornered MM Michael, a local ration shop owner, and insisted he buy a bundle of brooms to sell. Michael probably didn't expect a revolution, but those brooms vanished in just two days.

Michael realised he’d hit a goldmine. He started stocking everything from handmade traditional sweepers to exotic imports. Soon, the neighbours caught the fever, two more shops popped up, and just like that—Chool City was born.

You might think a broom is just a broom, but Chool City treats them like fine art. They currently stock 15 different varieties, ranging from the humble backyard sweeper to international heavy-hitters.

The Lineup:

• The Global Stars: Four types of Indonesian brooms are the local favorites. Why? Because their coconut leaf midribs are tougher than your average local variety—they simply refuse to break.
• The Classics: The "Chunchani," the "Kutti," and the sturdy plastic-tied versions.
• The Wild Side: Brooms made from Wild Date Palm and specialised grass.
• More than just Brooms: The shops have expanded into high-quality cane and reed craft, including murrams, fish baskets, flower baskets, and traditional vallams.

People aren't just coming for the novelty; they’re coming for the deals. Tourists from as far as the Malabar region now make "broom runs" to Kandathimavu to snag these prices:

• Brooms: Pick up anything from a basic sweeper to a premium import for ₹70 to ₹200.
• Cane & Reed Goods: Baskets, murrams, and vallams range from a pocket-friendly ₹50 to ₹1250.