Earthen Tunes Designs’ Post

The art of weaving Ghongadi shawls is central to the Kuruma and Kuruba pastoral communities of the Deccan Plateau in Telangana and Karnataka. Crafted from resilient Deccani sheep wool, the process involves both men and women. Women card and spin the wool, taking up to 21 days, and add intricate borders over an additional 7 to 10 days. Men handle warping, sizing, and weaving using traditional pit-looms called gunta maggam. Each Ghongadi requires 3-4 kg of wool and about a month to complete. Sizing involves grinding dehusked tamarind seeds into a porridge called ambali, applied to the warp and brushed using an indigenous tool called kuchcha. This process is repeated thrice and left to dry before weaving begins. Ghongadi blankets hold immense cultural significance with their thermoregulation quality, usable year-round. In weddings, brides wear woollen necklaces and grooms don woollen bracelets from Deccani sheep wool, symbolizing the sacredness of Ghongadi. The traditional Ghongadi is vital to the customs, traditions, and culture of these pastoral communities, protecting shepherds from harsh weather and nurturing their legacy. It is essential for births, deaths, weddings, rituals, and festivals in the Kuruma community. Losing Ghongadi would irreparably harm their culture. Despite their importance, Ghongadi weaving faces challenges due to the decline in Deccani sheep and the collapsing wool market, causing many weavers to abandon the craft. However, Earthen Tunes Designs has revived this tradition by using Ghongadi blankets to create shoes for farmers and urban consumers, providing employment to over 10 weaving clusters. This initiative revives the demand for traditional wool and offers sustainable livelihoods to artisans. Earthen Tunes Designs' innovative approach preserves traditional crafts while adapting them to modern needs. By transforming Ghongadi blankets into fashionable and functional footwear, they bridge the gap between rural artisans and urban markets, ensuring the heritage of the Kuruma and Kuruba communities continues, providing economic stability and pride in their cultural legacy. #sustainability #ruralindia #wool #woolshoes #employment

Way to go, Earthen Tunes.

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