Bhavani is home to the Bhavani Jamakkalam, a GI-tagged hand-woven rug with multicoloured cross bars, woven on pit looms. It is one of the most sold products at Erode's Gani Market.
Bhavani, a town in Erode district, is home to the Bhavani Jamakkalam, a hand-woven cotton rug and blanket with bright multicoloured cross bars. The Government of India granted it a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2005 after the Tamil Nadu government applied.
Jamakkalams are woven on wooden pit looms. The weaver sits in a pit level with the weaving surface, works two pedals with the feet and passes the shuttle by hand. Coarse cotton gives carpets with coloured bands. Softer art-silk thread allows border designs, and the hand technique known as korvai can weave letters, figures or scenes into the rug. Weaving began in homes and later moved to looms supervised by master weavers.
About 1,500 people work in the craft, around two-thirds of them women. Master weavers lease the looms, which trade merchants own. In busier years, more than 750 traders bought in the town on a single day, and parcels are couriered to several states. The Bhavani Jamakkalam is also one of the most sold products at Erode's Gani Market.
Jamakkalams are exported to Sweden, Germany, Italy, the UK, the US and Singapore, and IKEA has bought them since 1993. The Tamil Nadu government sells them through Co-optex stores.
Cheaper powerloom rugs from Solapur in Maharashtra are sold as "jamakkalam" too. They differ in material, thickness and quality. Ask whether a piece is pit-loom handwoven from Bhavani, check the weight and edge finish, and ask about GI-authorised producers for export orders.
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A GI-tagged hand-woven cotton rug and blanket from Bhavani in Erode district, woven on pit looms with multicoloured cross bars.
The GI tag was granted by the Government of India in 2005, following an application by the Tamil Nadu government.
From weavers and traders in Bhavani town, and at Erode's Gani Market, where it is one of the most sold products. Co-optex stores also sell it.
Ask for pit-loom handwoven pieces from Bhavani. Cheaper powerloom rugs from Solapur look similar but differ in material, thickness and finish.
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