Role of Household Members in Various Weaving Activities: An Analysis from the Bhulia Community of Western Odisha

Abstract

The handloom weaving is the oldest art of creating fabrics in the Indian villages through a manual instrument. There are distinct processes applied for creating the course and the artistic fabrics in the villages of western odisha. Both kinds of fabrics have their own demand in the market. Creating artistic fabrics in the handloom is an extraordinary work of the study community. The handloom weaving engages household members in various pre-loom and post loom activities. The role of every household member in the weaving process is distinct. At present the traditional tie-dye weaving became diversified and complicated its nature of production and allied work became separated. Creating Sambalpuri fabrics in the traditional pit looms by the ‘Bhulia’ community of western odisha has much attracted for this study. An ethnographic study has carried out to analyze the division of handloom work and to estimate the individual role in various production processes.