India Post Special Covers on GI Tagged Products: Haryana GI

Monday, January 22, 2024

062. Basmati

Basmati is described as special long grain aromatic rice grown and produced in a particular geographical region of the Indian sub-continent. Basmati is Nature’s gift and farmers have been growing this scented rice variety for many centuries.

The earliest mention of basmati rice was made in the epic Heer Ranjha composed by the Punjabi poet Varis Shah in 1766. The name Basmati is derived from two Sanskrit roots ‘Vas’ meaning ‘aroma’ and ‘Mati’ meaning ‘ingrained from the origin’. In Hindi, the equivalent of ‘Vas’ is ‘Bas’ and, therefore, Basmati. Essentially, Basmati means, ‘the one containing aroma’.

Basmati rice is characterized by the unique combination of long slender kernels with high length breadth ratio, an exquisite aroma, sweet taste, soft texture, delicate curvature, intermediate amylose content, high integrity of grain on cooking, and linear kernel elongation with least breadth wise swelling on cooking.

These unique characteristics are attributable to the various natural and human factors involved in the sowing, harvesting and processing of Basmati rice. In India, Basmati has been traditionally grown and produced in the entire states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

Basmati rice varieties require prolonged sunshine, high humidity, cool weather during grain filling, sufficient water supply and normal soil. These conditions are available only in the Indo-Gangetic plain with a relatively cooler climate for maximum retention of aroma in the grains. Consequently, only one crop of Basmati can be grown in a year during the Kharif season.

Basmati rice has a unique nutrient profile that may provide several health benefits. It is lower in calories and glycemic index than many other types of rice. Whole-grain basmati rice is said to be healthier than refined white rice. It is high in fiber, antioxidants, and essential minerals.

GI Tag Registration Date : 15 February 2016

GI Tag Number : 145

Certificate Number : 238

Geographical Area : Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir

Special Cover Release Date : 15 August 2021

Cancellation : Panchkula 134 109

Type : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number : HR/05/2021

Image of the cover furnished is from Haryana Circle

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Enlarged View of Cancellation

From Jammu & Kashmir Postal Circle, another GI Tag cover was issued on Basmati Rice to cover the GI Tagged Product from Jammu & Kashmir. Details are furnished below.

Special Cover Release Date : 05 April 2022

Cancellation : R.S.Pura 181 102

Type : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number : JK/01/2022

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Enlarged view of Cancellation

Friday, January 19, 2024

059. Phulkari

Phulkari is a traditional embroidery work with intricate and original geometric or floral designs and patterns, balanced to composition, pleasing and harmonious colour combinations. Originally, Sikhs were the main practitioners and patrons of this art form. However, today Phulkari is made all over Punjab and parts of Haryana and Rajasthan.

The stitches are even, regular and smooth which is reflected at the back of the Phulkari. Only faint and smooth lines of very small dots at regular intervals will be formed on the reverse of the cloth where Phulkari is done

Phulkari means “flower working” or “flower embroidery”. This art form originated in Punjab as early as the 15th century. This form of embroidery has more than twenty three patterns which are skillfully reproduced by artisans trained in this art for several generations.

There are two types of Phulkari – ordinary Phulkari and Bagh Phulkari. In the case of ordinary Phulkari, the embroidery does not cover the entire ground cloth. The designs are scattered over the ground cloth and the same is visible. On the other hand, in the case of a Bagh, the embroidery is so dense that the ground cloth is hardly visible.

The beauty of Phulkari lies in its intricate and original geometric or floral designs and patterns, balanced composition, pleasing and harmonious colour combinations, which makes it an exquisite work of art. The stitches must be even, regular and smooth which is reflected at the back of the Phulkari. In the best embroidered Phulkari, only faint and smooth lines of very small dots at regular intervals will be formed on the reverse of the cloth.

What distinguishes Phulkari from any other form of embroidery is the extensive use of short and long darn stitches over systematically counted strands of thread on the cloth. Phulkari is invariably embroidered on dyed khaddar. The reason for using khaddar is that counting of strands of thread for embroidery in short and long darn stitches is easier on coarse khaddar.