Handloom Village opens new avenues for Sharan artisans

Shimla: While handloom is becoming a diminishing craft in several districts of Himachal Pradesh due to a shortage of artisans, Sharan village near Naggar in Kullu district has emerged as a ‘Handloom Hub’ after receiving the ‘Handloom Village’ tag from the Union Ministry of Textiles, opening a window for additional income for traditional artisans, especially the women folk.

Sharan, a scenic, offbeat hamlet, was recognised among 11 villages nationally as a specialised Craft Handloom Village in 2020 due to its traditional wooden Kath-Kuni architecture and active community of local weavers.

This village earned the Handloom Village identification as it met all the parameters like location on tourist circuits to successfully blend craft production with rural tourism , State Government’s recommendation, infrastructure feasibility and cultural and heritage value, reflecting the unique, distinct and traditional regional weaving lineages.

Today, Sharan tells an inspiring story of a village transforming from traditional agricultural activities and weaving ‘pattu’, shawls, caps, muffler for personal use to entering the market to sell handloom products.