Hyderabad| Hands-on workshops to learn indigenous khadi spinning techniques of Patnulu

One of many Patnulu spinners at work
| Photograph Credit score: Chitrika

On February 1 and a pair of, three grasp girls spinners from Murapaka in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, will go to Hyderabad to reveal and educate contributors the artwork of Patnulu, or handspun khadi of Ponduru. This conventional strategy of spinning khadi, from cotton to yarn, includes 5 phases of processing the native short-staple cotton, konda patti (hill cotton), utilizing indigenous instruments. These girls are among the many few who proceed to practise this craft, which was predominant throughout the pre-Independence period.

The initiative, titled ‘Patnulu: The Handspun Handwoven Craft of Ponduru — A Glimpse into Its Artistry and Artisans’, is being organised in collaboration with the Chitrika Basis, which works with handloom weavers in Srikakulam and East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and Narayanpet in Telangana. These girls spinners are stakeholders within the Chitrika Artisan Producer Firm.

Textile designer Samyuktha Gorrepati, venture lead for the workshop and somebody who has carefully noticed the work of the spinners, explains how the Patnulu khadi of Ponduru differs from yarn spun utilizing the ambar charkha, a modernised model of the standard spinning wheel. “Within the post-Independence period, the ambar charkha was designed to create extra livelihood alternatives for ladies and got here to be extensively used,” she says.

The ambar charkha, promoted by the Khadi and Village Industries Fee, makes use of a number of spindles, permitting spinners to supply a number of yarns concurrently. In distinction, the Patnulu technique employs a single spindle, enabling the spinner to course of just one yarn at a time. Samyuktha highlights that this single-spindle strategy is nearer to the Gandhian philosophy of spinning khadi.

Throughout an earlier spinning workshop
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

Within the Patnulu technique, all 5 phases of changing cotton into yarn contain intricate hand processes utilizing easy, indigenous instruments. Utilizing konda patti cotton, the spinners create fine-count khadi yarn. Samyuktha notes that, previous to the Industrial Revolution, India was famend for producing a few of the most interesting cottons, similar to chintz, muslin, and palampore. This demonstration and workshop goal to offer contributors and textile lovers a uncommon alternative to find out how Indian spinners crafted a few of the world’s most interesting handspun cottons.

On the two demonstration venues, posters will present insights into the Patnulu craft, and a 13-minute brief movie will probably be screened. Souvenirs, together with yarn spun and autographed by the spinners, in addition to handspun and handwoven stoles and saris, will even be obtainable.

Contributors who register for the two-hour spinning workshops will probably be guided by the grasp spinners in utilizing these indigenous instruments. Samyuktha explains that the target behind organising the demonstrations and workshops is to supply college students and textile lovers the possibility to witness the transformation of cotton fibre into wonderful yarn. In Ponduru, this handspun wonderful Patnulu cotton yarn is bought to weavers, who use it to create beautiful handwoven material.