HYDERABAD: Two more craft forms from Telangana have now got international recognition. The iconic Adilabad Dokra, an ancient bell metal craft, and Warangal Dhurries, a popular cotton rug, have been accorded with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry of India.
Native to the Woj community of Adilabad, the Dhokra craftsmen have mastered in creating metal crafts which do not have a replica in shape or size as all of the crafts are uniquely designed and made.
The 100-odd families, currently, involved in creation of a hereditary crafts make brass objects by an ancient casting technique called cire perdue, a technique wherein a duplicate metal sculpture is cast from an original sculpture.
The craftsmen mostly indulge in creation of metal casting products like idols of local deities, bells, dancing figures, jewellery, statues and many other decorative items. Apart from these, the craftsman also makes figures of animals and birds, and jewels.
Warangal Dhurries
The Dhurries of India have become synonymous to 'Warangal Dhurries' due to the high degree of craftsmanship involved in creation of the thick rugs which are famous across the world.
With the geographical advantage of finding cotton in abundance, Warangal Dhurrie is produced for the past several decades in the State. The then spinning mills like Azam Jahi Mills seems to have helped create an ecosystem for cotton based weaving industry.
Currently, there are more than 2000 weaving community members present in Kothawada, Warangal in spinning Dhurrie. The products are exported mainly to UK, Germany along with few other European and African countries.
Studies commenced in 2015
The GI applications for Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Dhurries were filed in the GI registry on 6 March 2015, thereafter, teams were constituted to document the details.
The technology center of CII has facilitated State Handicrafts Development Corporation towards the registration of Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Dhurries for GI. The GI tag was accorded on March 28, this year.
It may be noted that the purpose of GI tag enables stakeholders to authenticate their production while earning a premium and derive an improved livelihood.