Basketry of Himachal Pradesh

The sighting of women carrying woven baskets, laden with apples or tea leaves on their backs is very common throughout the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The baskets of Himachal are made of either bamboo, banana fibres, palm leaves or the locally available grasses like  toong (a thick grass found on higher altitudes), nargal (a thin grass), phhagad (a hard grass), and chupod (a soft grass).

These baskets are constructed using a combination of three processes of basket weaving namely, plaiting, coiling and interlacing. Occasionally, colourful decorative elements are added to the baskets. The implements used are dhrah/ splicing tool and chaku/ knives of various sizes).

The baskets are woven by professional craftsmen as well as Pahari women primarily during winters. These are then sold off at local fairs and weekly markets during festival and wedding season.

The Palampur region of Kangra district produces mandri (grass mat), krida/ big basket, kamothu/small basket, kandi/ tiny basket and soop/ winnowing basket.

The weavers of Kullu district weave changer/(large circular bamboo trays , supu/ winnowing instrument, chabdi/storage basket, dhalara/ large bamboo container, toys and musical instruments.

The artisans in Chamba district construct winnowing fans, kilta/ basket, trays, chhatroru/ umbrella, pinjara/ cage, binnas/cushion and chattai/mat.