Rasulpur: Gopalpur village under this block in Jajpur district and famous for its tussar fabrics had much to celebrate Sunday as an international team on handicrafts visited the place.
The five-member team examined the weaving of tussar fabrics, the exquisite craftsmanship and methods to obtain a smooth and shiny finish for the product. They also talked at length about the market demand for tussar fabrics. Officials said that the team was made up with representatives from the US, Australia, Brazil and Switzerland.
Tussar silk sarees of Gopalpur village are world famous due to the specialised weaving techniques adopted by the weavers who have learnt this craft from their ancestors and are practicing it for generations. Approximately 500 weavers in Gopalpur have been eking out their livelihoods by weaving tussar silk sarees.
The team members after their arrival visited the workshop of ‘Maa Tarini Weavers Cooperative Society’. They enquired from the weavers about the weaving process. They also appreciated the calendaring machine used in weaving and enquired about its operation from president of the society Rebati Guin and senior members Ashok Guin and Ramesh Das.
The visitors stated that they will try their best for tussar fabric to gain worldwide popularity. If that happens, the demand for the products will grow and subsequently the incomes of the weavers will increase. They also purchased large quantities of tussar fabric from the weavers.
The visit of the team assumes significance with the start of an international handicraft summit at Jajati Hotel in Jajpur Road. The team members visited various handicrafts and handloom units in the district before the start of the summit. Deputy director Ashutosh Mohanty of Cuttack textile zone, additional director Prakash Chandra Mohanty of district handicraft department and other members accompanied the delegates.
PNN