Ponduru Khadi Gets GI Tag | 15 Dec 2025

Source: TH

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. 

  • 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.
• 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.