225. Uttarakhand Thulma

Uttarakhand Thulma (Blanket) are very thick woollen handmade blanket, woven with hand spin woollen and cotton threads on traditional manner in Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand. The blanket is specialized for its fine quality hairy effect. 

Thulma are woven mainly by women weavers of Bhotia community with lot of patience and utmost care using the finest variety of wool. It is exclusive hand spin and hand-woven product weaved since generations in the Himalayan region and used in the very low and minus degree temperature at the upper Himalayan region and giving much warmth in an effective manner.

Thulma is weaved since generations wherein the tradition of weaving has passed from one generation to another, since time immemorial by the women in their homes. Traditionally thulma were woven with white wool or uncolored wool, but with customer’s demand it is also weaved with dyed wool with bright red, blue, pink, black and green.

Image credit: asiainch.org

Thulma artisan hand spins the processed wool into thread using the traditional method for woollen yarn making. These hand spin threads are used in traditional throw/fly shuttles in weaving. These threads which are attached to the loom to weave the blanket is spun in charkha machine.

Threads are attached to the loom to weave the blanket. This warp is attached to the weaving loom through the four reels. The weaver uses 4 pedaled pit looms to weave the blanket. The wool is weaved into long strips of blanket. Once the weaving is complete the blanket is washed to remove the extra fiber and dried in the sun. 

Thulma is brushed with a pointed teeth brush (known as Kayun) on the upper surface, to bring out the hairy texture. This method of washing and brushing is continued until the soft bushiness of the wool is felt. After the brushing process is done four strips of blanket is stitched together and converted into a big Thulma blanket.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 14 September 2021

GI Tag Number                         : 653

Certificate Number                  : 392

Geographical Area                  : Uttarakhand

Special Cover Release Date   : 28 November 2021

Cancellation                             : Dehradun 248 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : UK/10/2021-2022

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