Geographical Indications Registry headquartered in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) has granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag for 4 new products from three states.
Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting (a traditional and ritualistic mural art), Telangana’s Telia Rumal cloth (an intricate handmade work with cotton loom) and Thanjavur Netti Works (pith works) and Arambavur Wood Carvings from the state of Tamil Nadu (TN) are the latest addition in the GI list.
Key Points:
i.About Sohrai Khovar painting:
- It is a traditional and ritualistic mural art made by local tribal women of Jharkhand. It is practiced only in Hazaribagh district during most of the local harvest and marriage time. To make this, locally and naturally available soil of different colors found in the area of ​​Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand is used.
- The paintings showcase the profusion of lines, dots, animal figures and plants, often representing religious iconography.
ii.About Telia Rumal cloth:
- Originated from Pochampalli town in Telangana, this Fabric for making oily handkerchiefs involves intricate handmade work with cotton looms that can only be made using the traditional process and not by any other mechanical means.
- The Telia comes in three special colors such as red, black and white, and a variety of designs (like Gajams) symbolize its uniqueness.
iii.About Thanjavur Netti Works (also known as Thanjavur Pith Work):
- This art works are done by using pith, which is obtained from netti, a hydrophyte plant called as Aeschynomene aspera that adorned the palace of Rajaraja Chola. The raw material is taken from the stem of the Netti plant in the Pudukottai lake (Pudukullam & Kallaperumbur lake), which are then dried in the sun and then applied to the sculpture. The soil found in Thanjavur is favourable for the growth of the plant.
- Netti sculptures are designed with small needles, small needles, blades, scissors and knives. The sculptures that give us the shape we wanted are in the glass ark of various houses with glittering beauty and adorn the reception.
iv.About Arambavur Wood Carvings:
- The wooden sculpture made in the village of Veppanthattai in Perambalur district of TN is world famous. These wood carvings are made out of wooden logs of Indian siris (Poo Vaagai, Albizia lebbeck), mango (Mangifera indica), lingam tree (Mavilangam), Indian ash tree (Othiyan – Odina wodier), rosewood, neem tree (Vembu – Azadirachta indica).
- The most famous of all kinds of monasteries like Lord Vinayaka, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Krishna, Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi can be seen in Arumbavur Wood Carvings.
v.The GI tag application for the painting was made by Sohrai Kala Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti Limited while the application for Telia Rumal was made by the Consortium of Puttapaka Handloom Cluster-IHDS.
Benefits: The GI tagging will help rural artisans, who possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and methods. They can make & market their products domestically and internationally.
About Geographical Indication: It is used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
