Handloom Communities of India are Keeping Alive the Weaving Legacy!

These handloom communities of India are preserving the threads and looms from various regions of our country by keeping the weaving legacy alive.

Handloom has been the backbone of our country and the fact that our garments are famous all over the world makes it even more pre-eminent. The weavers of India specialize in various techniques and perform these activities according to the prominence of the region. From Julhas of the North to Devanga from the South, here are the handloom communities of India that are keeping alive the weaving tradition.

1. Tanti of West Bengal

Tanti community is a weaving community from West Bengal. The word tanti is derived from the Odia word ‘tanta’, which means a loom. These weavers work on muslin fiber such as tanzeb, sarband, badan, khos, elebellay, sharbati, malmal, jamdani, and addi. They specialize in fine work but the passage of time and changing needs have led them to manufacture common wears as well.

2. Devanga of South India

Devangas of South India specialize in silk weaving. This particular community hails from Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. Everyone from the family including the children participates in weaving, dying, yarning, and looming. Motifs are printed on brocade, damask, and matelassé made with either silk or cotton.

3. Khatri of Gujarat

The Khatri weavers community of Gujarat is famous for Ajrakh block-painted fabrics. The fabric is dyed with natural colors from indigo, henna turmeric, pomegranate, iron, and mud and geometric designs and motifs such as animals, birds, and human figures are drawn on the same. This painting originated in the Dhamadka village of Kutch.

4. Bhulia of Odisha

Bhulia’s from Odisha are known for their tie and dye clothes. This technique of tie and dye is known as ‘Bandha’ in Odisha. Kapata or Khan, a special kind of fabric with a combination of cotton and silk was originally used by this community for producing the clothes. The popular Ikkat work is done by the Bhulia community.

Also Read: Threads of Tradition: Exploring Homegrown Elegance through Handloom Brands

5. Padmashali of Andhra Pradesh

The Padmashalis from Andhra Pradesh is a weaving community. They hail from Kodiyala, a small village in Karnataka. The name Padmashali comes from the words ‘Padma’ which means ‘lotus’ and ‘Shali’, which means ‘weaver’ and ‘spider.’ There’s a legend that the community got its name from Markandeya Rishi, who supposedly wove the first fabric from the fibers of the lotus flower to clothe the gods.

6. Julaha of North India

The name 'Julah' comes from the Persian word for a ball of thread. Many Julahas relate their community's name with the words 'Jaal' (net) and 'Jils' (decorated). These artists are noted for using vibrant hues in their weavings. Julahas are mostly found in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, although they can also be found in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, and Maharashtra.

7. Panika of Chattisgarh

Panika also known as Panka or Panikar are weavers from the state of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. Two coloured borders are simultaneously made by using the “3-shuttle technique” called ‘Phera.’ Kotpad cotton is woven in the tribal regions of southern Odisha and Chhattisgarh, by the Panika community.

8. Kani Weavers of Kashmir

Kani weaving is one of the oldest handicrafts of Kashmir. Kani means a wooden needle in Kashmiri and it originated in the Kanihama village. The Kani Shawls of Kashmir are famous all over the country. They are woven in Pashmina yarn using a Kani (wooden needle) and delicately traced on graph paper to meet the perfect designs.

Also Read: Art forms of Telangana: A display of intricate designs and exemplary skills!

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