Ghicha Silk Weaving of Bihar

Ghicha silk is a type of silk fabric that is produced in India. It is made from the cocoons of wild silkworms, which are found in the forests of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states in India. Unlike traditional silk, which is made by boiling the cocoons of domesticated silkworms, Ghicha silk is produced by allowing the silkworms to emerge from the cocoons naturally.

Ghicha silk has a slightly rough texture compared to other types of silk, and it is also heavier and more durable. The fabric is also known for its natural, earthy colors, which are derived from the natural shades of the silkworms’ cocoons.

The production of Ghicha silk begins with the collection of the silkworm cocoons from the forest. The cocoons are then sorted and boiled in hot water to kill the silkworms inside. The boiled cocoons are then dried and separated into individual fibers. Unlike traditional silk, where the cocoon is unraveled in a continuous strand, the Ghicha silk fibers are shorter and coarser due to the fact that the silkworms have naturally emerged from the cocoon.

The next step is to spin the fibers into yarn using a charkha, a traditional spinning wheel. The spun yarn is then woven into fabric using a handloom. The handloom weaving process is slow and labor-intensive, with each weaver producing only a few meters of fabric per day.

Once the fabric is woven, it is dyed using natural dyes made from plants, roots, and bark. The natural dyes give Ghicha silk its characteristic earthy colors, which range from beige and brown to green and red.