Weaving in Assam

Want to know about weaving in Assam? Weaving and embroidery is one of the main cottage industries of Assam. It is said that, Assamese women can weave dreams in silk! That’s so true. Weaving is a traditional industry of Assam. Assamese women mostly use weaving as a part-time occupation or hobby. They usually produce cloth to meet the requirement of their family. Mekhela – Chadar is a two piece Assamese ladies apparel have beautifully designed borders. Assamese women usually makes Mekhela Chadar in their household handlooms. Apart from Mekhela Chadar, gamocha, saree, shawal, mats and napkins are also made in Assamese household handlooms. The beautiful handloom fabrics of Assam shows the creativity of Assamese weavers. Cotton, Muga silk, Paat (Silk), Eri silk are common fabrics widely used for weaving in Assam. Sualkuchi is one of the main handloom weaving centres of Assam.

Weaving in ancient days:

The Harsha Charita of 7th Centuary CE and Kalika Purana of the 10th century CE has mention of fine cotton garments from Assam. Harsha Charita mentioned that Kamrupa King Bhaskar Barman sent a present made of Dukula cotton to Emperor Harsha. The Kalika Purana also refers to woolen garments called Kambala, which were made and used in Assam. Handloom weaving was at the peak of its glory during the Ahom period.

Gait’s ‘A History of Assam’ has mention of popularity of weaving industry in Ahom period. Spinning and weaving were popular profession of every Assamese household during that period. Ahom Queens patronised silk industry. There were many Royal looms for producing special types of silk fabrics for the use of the members of the Royal family. They were called ‘Rajagharia looms’. The Ahom kingdom had a special administrative system to look after the silkworm rearing, reeling of silk yarn and weaving of silk fabrics. Momai Tamuli Barbaruah, even made it an obligatory duty for every household to spin and weave.

Importance of Weaving in Assam:

Handloom industry is a rural based cottage industry, in which spinning, weaving and other processes were done only by hand.  Handloom industry not only provides the basic necessities of life but also plays a vital role in economic growth of a country through its contribution to employment generation, industrial output, and the export earnings. Weavers can play an important role in boosting the economy of Assam. That’s why Government is promoting weaving through different schemes and policies. It is also exploring the possibility of enhancing production capabilities of Assamese weavers to cover the export markets.

Assam Information Portal