These Dhurrie Weaving Traditions From India Will Floor You

Even though these unique traditions may have aged, as they came to being decades ago, they continue to take us by surprise for their fine craftsmanship. Even thinking they all have been made over days, sometimes months, by delicate hands in a small village seems impossible, but at the same time, quite remarkable. India's rich repository of traditions has made it a fertile ground for unique crafts to flourish. One such evolving culture is the rug-weaving tradition, which artisans have mastered over decades. Even if modern designs have made their way into the picture, the weaving technique remains indigenous. 

Jamakkalam Dhurrie from Tamil Nadu

Jamakkalam finds its origin in Bhawani, which is located in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu. These rugged, thick, colourful carpets also earned a GI tag in 2005. The simplicity of the design is balanced by a unique selection of colours that stand out from even far away. These cotton dhurries continue to be woven the traditional way&ndashon a four-pedal handloom, with the weaver sitting on a plank next to the cloth beam.   

Jamkhana Dhurrie from Karnataka 

To make Jamkhana dhurries, weavers from Navalgund spin raw cotton threads on a vertical loom crafted from a pit. The patterns are made using the inlay technique, and an L-shaped jagged metal claw is used as the weft beater. A typical design seen on many Jamkhana dhurries is bright cubes that look like a chess board on which people play dice games. 

Panja Dhurrie from Rajasthan 

These long-lasting, sturdy, and vibrant dhurries are named after a tool that is used in their creation. A&nbsppanja&nbspis a metallic-claw-like tool weavers use to beat the threads into the warp. They feature intricate designs (like waves, flowers, and geometric shapes) that are manually crafted using jute, cotton or woollen yarn. 

Camel or Sheep Wool Dhurrie from Kutch 

Kutch is home to many colourful handicrafts that find space across many households. Just like those decor pieces, these dhurries also stand out in design and making. They are mostly made of camel, or sheep wool on floor looms where the weaver sits on a plank running across the warp's width. The design features clean geometric patterns that are arranged to form flowers and other shapes.