Delightful mangalgiri salwar suits

Mangalagiri is a town and a mandal of Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. Mangalagiri is a part of Vijayawada. It is situated on the Vijayawada-Guntur road, 8 miles (13km) to the south-east of Vijayawada and 13 miles (21 km) to the north-east of Guntur city. Mangalagiri means the holy hill. Near the foot of the stone flight of steps is a stone pillar with a telugu inscription, recording grants of villages. It is dated to 1520 and mentions the capture of Kondavidu by Timmarasu, general of Krishna Deya Raya.

In the 1970s there was huge water scarcity in mangalagiri. Goli Gopala Rao, then the municipal chairman of Mangalagiri, brought water to the town through water pipelines and he was called Apara Baghiratha due to his services to the public. As the location of the town is etched amidst well developed cities of Guntur and vijaywada, the real estate business has gone to peaks. The future capital of Andhra Pradesh is also proposed around Mangalagiri.

The Centre has given a new lease of life to the struggling mangalagiri handloom sector by granting Geographical indication (GI) status. The AP state government applied for the GI status for mangalagiri handlooms and fabrics about 3 years ago and finally secured it. The GI status is specific recognition granted to the product which would bar others from using that name.

Manglagiri handlooms and fabrics have already secured a logo registered for the product and grant of GI would further help boost the market. According to loca master weavers, presently Mangalagiri handlooms and fabrics have an annual turnover of just Rs.10 crore and it could easily make a business of Rs.50 crore in a couple of years from now.

The AP state government applied for the GI status for mangalagiri handlooms and fabrics about years ago and finally secured it. The GI status is specific recognition granted to the product which would bar others from using that name. The GI certification is granted only after various inspections and scrutiny where the authorities of intellectual properties wing verify whether the product possesses distinctive qualities. The GI is granted only when the produce is found to be made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.

The looms used in Mangalgiri are mostly pit looms. Pit looms are looms which are fixed in the ground level and there will be a pit in which looms peddle will be placed and the weaver will sit on the floor and use his hands and legs to weave. The traditional process of weaving is left. Now a day, the jacquard is used and cards with punched holes are inserted and placed appropriately to get the required designs of the cloth. Zari is wound in small bobbins and it is used only for the border. The woven yarn cloth is then cut according to the requirement of the goods and it is folded and sent for inspection to the master weaves. The handlooms in mangalgiri are famous for the softness and durability. The handloom fabrics are soft and comfortable to wear and also suites all the climates.

Prachi.L She is a freelancer long associated with ethnic fabrics, known for her special leaning towards ethnic sarees. She enjoys the privilege of being a part-time consultant to Unnati Silks. S.E-mail her at unnatikaro@gmail.com.