Rapid Fire
Ponduru Khadi Gets GI Tag
- 15 Dec 2025
- 2 min read
Ponduru Khadi, fabric from Andhra Pradesh, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry.
- Ponduru Khadi: It is a traditional handspun and handwoven cotton fabric, produced in Ponduru village of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh and is locally known as Patnulu.
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The fabric is made using hill cotton, punasa cotton, or red cotton, all of which are indigenous to the Srikakulam region.
- From cleaning the cotton to spinning and weaving, the entire production process is done manually, preserving traditional skills.
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- Unique Features of Ponduru Khadi: Cleaning of cotton using the jawbone of the Valuga fish is a globally unique practice, found only in Ponduru Khadi.
- Ponduru is the only place in India where spinners still use single-spindle charkhas with 24 spokes, known as the Gandhi Charkha.
- The fabric is known for its very high yarn count of about 100–120, indicating extreme fineness.
- Historical Significance: During the pre-Independence period, Mahatma Gandhi highlighted the virtues of Ponduru Khadi in his journal Young India, linking it to the ideals of self-reliance, swadeshi, and the freedom movement.
- GI Tag: It identifies goods originating from a specific location and having distinct nature, quality, and characteristics linked to that location.
| Read more: India's Geographical Indication Landscape |
