Inauguration of State Gamcha of Chhattisgarh | 16 Oct 2021

Why in News

• On October 14, 2021, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the state 'Gamcha' of Chhattisgarh, displaying the traditional cultural heritage of the state. In government events, this Gamcha will be presented to the guests.

Key Points

• These Gamcha have been made by the tussar silk and cotton weavers and tattoo hand craftsmen by the Chhattisgarh State Handloom Association.
• On the Gamcha, the state bird of Chhattisgarh- Pahari Myna, the state animal-forest buffalo, the famous Gaur crown of Mandar, Bastar and the pictures of folk artists performing folk dance have been inscribed with tattooing.
• The design of the Gamcha depicts a farmer ploughing the paddy and ploughing to represent the state of Chhattisgarh, which is famous as a rice bowl. The impression of the traditional mural painting of Surguja is inscribed on the border of the Gamcha.
• Apart from the remuneration for making the Gamcha, 95 percent of the income from the Gamcha will be given to the weavers and tattoo craftsmen.
• Filcher silk yarn in the warp and Dabha tussar yarn and Ghincha yarn have been used by the weaver in tussar silk Gamchha. The width of the Gamcha is 24 inches and the length is 84 inches.
• The weaving of this tussar silk Gamcha has been done by the weavers of Seoni Champa. After weaving the Gamcha, the designs have been engraved in them by the women tattoo artists of Sarguja through tattoo prints.
• Cotton Gamcha is prepared through weaving on handlooms by weavers of Balod, Durg, Rajnandgaon of the state.
• Cotton yarn of 2/40 count has been used in the warp in the Gamcha and cotton yarn of 20 mt has been used in the weft. Its width is 24 inches and its length is 84 inches.
• The cost of a silk Gamchha is fixed at Rs 1,534 (inclusive of GST). The weaving wage of silk Gamchha is Rs 120 per piece, while that of cotton Gamchha is fixed at Rs 239 (inclusive of GST) per piece.
• With the recognition of these Gamchas as a memento of the state, 300 weavers will get employment through weaving and 100 tattoo craftsmen will get employment throughout the year. The weaving wage of a cotton pot is Rs 60 per piece.