Tamil Nadu's Handloom Products Recognized Universally

Chennai: A wide range of handloom products from Tamil Nadu had been universally recognized for their excellent craftsmanship and their uniqueness, the State Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, R Gandhi, said in the Assembly.

In his policy note presented on the floor of the House, Gandhi said some of the handloom products were best known for their beauty and versatility and among them were Kancheepuram Silk Sarees, Thirubhuvanam Silk Sarees, Arani Silk Sarees, Bhavani Jamukkalam, Madurai Sungudi Sarees, Coimbatore Kora Cotton Sarees, Paramakudi Sarees, Salem Silk Dhoties, Erode and Karur Home Textiles.

The Handloom sector had a rich heritage woven with Tamil culture and had a very long tradition of craftsmanship sustained through transfer of skills from one generation to the next from its origin in our country, which had been traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization of 3000 BC, he said.

Archaeological evidences excavated at Keeladi, Sivagangai District also confirmed the fact that the ancient Tamils engaged themselves in weaving as mentioned in sangam literature, he said

The antiquity of weaving was depicted in Tholkappiam, the findings in Purananuru, Natrinai represented women largely practiced weaving and the excavation of dyeing vats at Keeladi, Kodumanal, Uraiyur and Arikamedu stood testimony for our rich heritage and culture in weaving, he said.