KINNAURI SHAWL

Description

Kinnauri Shawl is a type shawl manufactured in Kinnaur district of the Indian state Himachal Pradesh. The shawls are known for their geometric designs. In October 2010, the shawl was registered by the Indian government under the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999 which prohibited unauthorized production of the shawl which would invite INR 2 lakh punishment or three years imprisonment. Kinnauri shawls are known for their intricate geometric designs, objects of religious importance are weaved on these shawls with colours of mythological origins. The colours used have a meaning with green signifying air, blue – ether, white – water, yellow standing for earth and red for fire. The geometric designs give the shawls a Central Asian influence. Shawls for commercial purposes are woven with frame loom, pitlooms shawls cater to the local usage. The weavers weave to pieces of half length shawl with similar designs, and after completion are joining at the centre through stitching. On average, it takes around 45 days to complete a single shawl. Woolen worsted warp is used for making Kinnauri shawls. The weft is of woolen worsted, hand-spun Indian wool, pashmina and Angora. Most of the motifs woven in the shawl have a very special symbolic and religious significance. The ground colours used for Kinnauri shawls comprise of white, brown, black, and natural grey. Some of the prime colours used for patterning are red, orange, pink, blue, green, yellow, black and white. Of these, five colors represent five elements. Likewise, white stands for water, yellow for earth, red for fire, green for air and blue for aether. Soft vegetable dyed colors are also used in Kinnauri shawls these days.