The iron dao has traditionally been an all-purpose farming tool for Tamil Nadu's Urali tribe. At its upper end is inserted a crescent-shaped iron blade for cutting vegetation, clearing fields, and carrying out agricultural operations such as harvesting and pruning. Made with a skillful insertion of the lower part of the blade into a strong wooden handle, tight attachment is ensured with the use of an iron ferrule for durability during use. Uniquely, a twisted bark rope is tied just below the ferrule, which in addition to lending grip may have acted as an embellishment. This result is a makeshift yet elegant tool, representing extensive knowledge of forest ecology among the Urali tribe and their dependency on local raw materials.
Urali tribesmen (also Urali Gounder) inhabit hilly and forested regions of Tamil Nadu, particularly Western Ghats. Shifting cultivation and herbal medicine traditionally were the specializations of the Urali people, who have held on to ancient ways, including the designing and use of tools such as the dao.