Traditional and historical handloom product of Telangana, Warangal Dhurries has witnessed a steep decline in its exports which has left weavers with no ways to promote their products.
Speaking to The Hans India, Kuchana Lakshminarayana, Usha Kiran Handlooms, Kothawada, said, “Currently, we supply these dhurries to various tribal, social welfare, and BC welfare hostels. While a ray of hope gleams among the weavers, there exists a need for intensified governmental initiatives to safeguard this handicraft. Such efforts would empower artisans in their endeavour to conserve this cherished craft.”
Warangal has held a significant position as a hub for crafting durries, imbued with a distinctive local essence.
The legacy of dhurrie production in Warangal traces its origins to the Mughal period, when artists and artisans accompanying the Mughal army’s expansion into the Deccan region turned their skills towards crafting carpets.
Telangana’s second largest city, Warangal is famous for its unique handmade durries. These rugs are well known for their natural colours and materials, such as cotton, jute, and wool. Dhurries are woven on pit and frame looms using treadles with weft interlocking technique, reported local media.
The patterns on these weaves are geometric, angular, and colourful horizontal stripes.
Mostly, primary colours are used in combination with neutral colours. This woven craft was awarded geographical indication (GI 2018) tag from the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai.
A recent innovation embraced by the local weavers involves the fusion of tie-dyed ikat techniques with hand-painted or block-printed kalamkari designs for dhurries, a creative adjustment that serves to economize time and energy.