Dhalapathar Parda And Fabrics #OdishaGI #KnowYourGI #GIsofIndia #AToZChallenge

Dhalapathar Parda and Fabrics are named after the village of Dhalapathar in Khurda district of Odisha. 

Parda means curtain. The handloom curtains and fabrics of this village are handmade using spinning machines. As they are unique, they have the Geographical Indications (GI) tag.

Type: Handicraft

GI Application# 207

Certificate Date: 17/07/2012

Left image- Dhalapathar Parda woven by Shri Krushna Rout in the year 1945 with the design Taj Mahal. 

Apart from weaving Parda and Fabrics, weavers also weave artistic thread designs on Sarees, Lungi, Gamuchhas (towel) etc.

A community known as ‘Rangani’ weaves handloom sarees. Rangani means ‘Rang’ (colour) and ‘Ani’ (bring) – ‘one who knows the art to bring colour on cloth’. 

Some popular names of Sarees- ‘Kusuma Kapata’, ‘Kankana Pedi’, ‘Muktapunji’, ‘Nahati’ & ‘Akata’. Previously used during social functions like weddings and in cultural activities like drama, arrival of low-cost mill-printed sarees made the weavers use the craft to make Parda. 

Source

These fabrics are hand-spun using naturally-coloured thread, made from natural colours from leaves, fruits and trees. The talented weavers have created many natural sceneries and floral patterns and designs like Jagannath Temple, Konark Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Kalasha Hansa (Pot & Swan), Surya Namaskar, Sunset Scenery, Konark Ghoda (Konark Horse), Ashoka Chakra, India Map, Odisha Map, Bharat Mata etc. on Parda. 

#Dhalapathar Parda & Fabrics of Khurda district #Odisha #India - GI Application No. 207.
This traditional #handicraft needs support & promotion.
It should be more readily available. #GITag #OdishaGI #GIsofIndia #LetsTalkIP #WahGI https://t.co/gqfaR8kIti

— Odita Trust (@OditaTrust) December 21, 2019

When I first learned about Dhalapathar Parda and Fabrics in 2017 while researching about GIs, I felt so ignorant that I was unaware of this beautiful handicraft from Odisha. 

Prof. Dr. K.D.Raju of IIT Kharagpur had facilitated the GI application for Dhalapathar Parda & Fabrics for Odisha State Govt. You can learn about the process, view some wonderful works of art, and skilled weavers in his video -:

In 2018, on Prof. Dr. Raju's reference, I was invited to represent Odisha in the BRICS Alliance Business Conclave GI Exhibition at Delhi. When I tried to look for sample pieces of 'Dhalapathar Parda and Fabrics' to carry with me for display in the said exhibition, I was dismayed to not find them in the shops of Bhubaneswar... 

I really could not and cannot still understand why and how we were/are facing such a situation- why the lackadaisical attitude and paucity? I continued looking for the samples like crazy. 

Here is a GI product that is simply not available. That is why it is not known.

After all, like it's said in Hindi- 'jo dikhta hai, wo bikta hai'- what is seen, sells.

Thankfully, Odisha state's handloom cooperation, Boyanika, did have some exquisite sample pieces  of Dhalapathar Parda in their safe-keeping. I am really grateful to Shri Devaraja Sahu, the manager of Boyanika, who understood the need to display to represent our state's GI. Thankfully Sahu Babu trusted me, and loaned their precious sample pieces for the purpose. 

Promotion is needed for this too, else like some other handicrafts, this too may be hidden behind curtain soon.

Source: Kanak News

D For- Dhalapathar 

I am writing A-Z posts about the Geographical Indications (GIs) of Odisha #OdishaGI.
GI products are linked with the culture, traditions, history, reputation etc. of a geographical location.
Only when info is shared, people can learn and be aware.
This is my sincere attempt to share information about the GI-Tags of Odisha.
You can check out my other GI posts here.
My previous #AToZChallenge posts here.

Are you aware of Geographical Indications? 
Had you heard of Dhalapathar Parda and Fabrics? 
Please do share in the comments below.