Sigori Cotton Cluster, Patna
Sigori is a small village of Patna district which used to be an epicentre of small weaver concentrations in its vicinity. Presently about 300 looms chug along producing a variety of cotton dress materials, mainly shirting, dhoti, gamchha etc. The use of VAT colours, plain weaves and various check/stripe patterns using 32’s to 60’s cotton yarns, characterise Sigori’s handloom offerings.
Biharsharief Cluster, Nalanda
Biharsharif town and its nearby villages such as Nepura, Malah Bigha etc. houses many looms producing some fine silks as well as cotton dress materials. The weavers procure silk yarns from Gaya, Bhagalpur etc. and produce some fine tussar silk, mulberry silk and ‘Matka’ silk fabrics. Cotton dress materials and bed sheets are also made by some weavers using broad-width looms of 60″ width.
Bhauara Cotton Cluster, Nalanda
Bhauara is a small damsel near Madhubani township.
Fine muslins, cotton dress materials, fine dhotis, are some of the offerings from Madhubani region to the rest of the world. However, the cluster presently has about 300 odd looms producing mainly saris, dhotis dress materials and gamchhas using 40’s to 60’s count cotton yarns.
Manpur Cluster, Gaya
Manpur, Tekari, Chakand and other villages of the region houses a number of weaver families. Manpur produces not only fine tussar silk but also a large number of gamchhas typically used at most pilgrimages. The weaver families produce what they can sell to traders of Bhagalpur or to the local traders based in Gaya. Some weavers have attempted natural dyed tussar silk fabrics such as stoles, dress materials etc
Katoria Cluster, Banka
Katoria, Chorbe and Dumrama are some of the important handloom destinations in Banka district of Bihar, which is sharing its boundary with the state of Jharkhand. However, the area enjoys a unified geo-climatic condition suitable for tussar cocoon rearing and the forests of the region provide ample scope for the same.
Building upon this, the region possesses a large population of women who carry out traditional thigh reeling of tussar silk.
Thus Ghhichha, Katia and other types of tussar silk yarns are produced and further woven into Tussar-Ghhichha (TG), Mulberry -Ghhichha (MG) etc. The rustic looks and the coarse texture of the fabric is appreciated by connoisseurs across the globe.
Hussainabad Cluster, Bhagalpur
Hussainabad is a part and parcel of Bhagalpur. The looms being presently used in the cluster are pit looms with single box fly shuttle technique. The use of 4, 6 or 8 pedals to create textural patterns in the fabric and some makeshift dobbys of 6- 8 plates are in use in the cluster.
The effective width of the fabrics is ranging from 45 to 55 inches. The weavers of the cluster have been doing a lot of design based production as per the demand using up to 8 pedals for textural patterns. They are adept at handling varieties of silk and the cluster has a reputation for being the key source for matka silk which has earned a brand name for Bhagalpur.
Nathnagar Cluster, Bhagalpur
Nathnagar is a part of the extended township of Bhagalpur and is well connected with Patna and Kolkata and thereby with the rest part of the country. A large number of households are engaged in weaving activity in the region. The cluster has a very large number of looms. In any case 300-400 looms are said to be operative at any given time. The looms being presently used in the cluster are pit looms with single box fly shuttle technique. The weavers of the cluster have been making a variety of silk and cotton fabrics ranging from the famous silk chaddar of Bhagalpur to tussar silk fabrics, dhoti, lungi, gammcha etc.
Champanagar Cluster, Bhagalpur
Champanagar, which is a part of the Bhagalpur township. houses about 500 odd looms and these produce a range of silk fabrics. The present product range can be divided into 65% silk dress material, 20-25% silk home furnishings, 15-20% silk saris and cotton fabrics.
The width of the looms is up to 50 inches. Both frame as well as pit looms are being used in the cluster. Use of 4 to 6 pedals to create textural patterns in the fabric is common in the cluster. The weavers are skilled and have a clear understanding of possible variations in weave structures and possible combinations utilizing the resources to the maximum usage. They are ready to accept new design ideas and are open to suggestions and not adamant to just stick to the conventional weaving technique.
Kharik Cluster, Bhagalpur
Kharik is closely linked to Bhagalpur geographically as well as economically. It is, located about 30 kilometres away from Bhagalpur off NH 31.
A large number of households, are engaged in weaving activity in the region, some in power looms and some in handlooms. The cluster has a very large number of looms. The width of the looms is up to 50 inches. Both frame as well as pit looms are being used in the cluster which produces from coarse cotton lungis to fine silk dupattas.
Some of the weavers also produce tussar silk fabrics such as Tussar-Ghichha or Mulberry-Ghichha.
Jamalhatta Cluster, Bhagalpur
Jamalhatta is a small village of Siwan district, Bihar. It’s famous for its cotton production.
Products are made on Pit-looms. Main products of the pocket are Cotton Gamchha, Bed sheet, Shirtings, Dhoti etc.
The use of VAT colors, plain weaves and various checks/stripe patterns using 10s, 14s & 20s cotton yarns etc. one in practice.
Nabinagar Cluster, Aurangabad
Nabinagar is a block of Aurangabad district in Bihar. It’s one of the two clusters of Bihar in which woolen blankets are Hand weaved.
The products are made for hand operated machines known as “Paata” and “Pit Loom”. The cluster is famous for its woolen products. The sheep wools are used instead of yarns. The wool is generally being procured from the local market to meet the requirements, signifies that major populace earn their livelihood through trading of sheep wool and woolen blankets. The designs of the blankets are in one colour, stripes and checks mostly.
Main Market: Jharkhand.Size: 4X6 ‘feet’
Akhorigola Cluster, Rohtas
Akhorigola is a village in Rohtas district. This cluster of Bihar is well known for its woolen blankets which are hand woven.Sheep wool is used as raw material for weaving the blankets which are locally procured by the shepherds and local traders available in abundance.
Designs of Blankets: Stripes, Checks.
Loom: Pit Loom & ‘Paata’
Main market: Nepal.
Dumrama Cluster, banka
Dumrama is a village in Amarpur Block of Banka district. One of the major Cluster in neighborhood is. Katoria Products are well recognized. However, the area enjoys a unified geo-climatic condition suitable for tussar cocoon rearing and the forests of the region provide ample scope for the same. Dumrama Cluster is one of the well known clusters for its silk sarees and dress materials. Products are mostly produced on Pit Looms.
The major and well known product of the cluster is Tassar Silk Sarees, Silk Dress Materials etc.
