Bhubaneswar: Here is good news for the women of the Dangaria tribe of Odisha. They are likely to receive the long-awaited geographical indication (GI) tag for their incomparable Dangaria Kandha shawls and Lanjia Saura mural paintings soon.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry by Odisha ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, and Ministry of Textiles has sent a proposal to the concerned authorities in this regard in 2019. Subsequently, a special committee visited the Rayagada district in December 2021 and initiated the process for approving the GI tag for the Dangaria Kandha shawls and Lanjia Saura painting. According to reports, the matter is in its penultimate stage.
The state government is hopeful that both these handicrafts will get wide acceptance worldwide once they get the GI tag. The government will promote this handicraft at the national as well as international levels so that the artists get due recognition and earn royalty.
The Kapadaganda shawls measure 5.6 inches long and 2 feet wide Kapadaganda shawl and are made by tribal women of the Dangaria in Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha has a unique identity. Usually, the shawls are made by unmarried women of Dangaria who weave them using traditional thread and cloth to gift them to their male family members.
Interestingly, Dangaria shawls are made with a purpose and hence each has a unique pattern, design, and colour. A shawl for gifting a lover is distinct from a shawl to be presented to one’s brother or father. These shawls are cent per cent organic and do not have any chemical content. The dyes – usually red, green, and yellow – are prepared from leaves.
Thus far, Dangaria shawls were weaved for personal consumption, but now the state government is planning to make it a commercial venture with a view to uplifting the economic status of the tribals. As a part of this effort, the government purchases about 2,000 Dangaria shawls annually through its agent.
The Lanjia Saura wall painting is a part of Odia culture. These paintings are a product of the spiritual endeavours of Lanjia Saura. These are painted by priests known as ‘Kudan’ on special occasions. These paintings are done on the walls using yellow or red dues and bamboo sticks.
