Abstract:

Handloom weaving and handicraft are the cultural heritage of the Himachali people and an indispensable part of the lives of Kulluites. The activity of preparing a vide range of handloom and handicraft products was originated to suffice local needs but it gradually took a turn towards commercialization. In the study, handloom and handicrafts of district Kullu of Himachal Pradesh have been presented. The local weavers besides following their ancestral traditions and skills are inten-tionally making some alterations in the designs and motifs to cater to the needs of modern buyers. The various handloom and handicraft items of the Kullu district include shawls, caps, borders, pattoo, muffler, patti, thobi, numdha, gudma, hand knit woolens, kilta, patari, etc. which have been described in detail in the paper.