As the 60-year-old Yadaiah stood up to speak in front of a small crowd gathered at Malkha shop in Humayun Nagar, it was a small step towards reviving a tradition. A black gongadi gracing his shoulders, Yadaiah, a shepherd said, “I have been associated with this wool craft for 50 years now. Now, it is dying a slow death.” Gongadi is the traditional woollen blanket of Telangana woven from the wool of Deccani sheep breed, or the nallae-gorre .
Distinct for its black colour and a thin white border, the gongadi is unique in that the blanket is not cut; it is a continuous yarn. It has a natural rough feel when you touch it and Yadaiah said it is an all-season blanket. “It makes you feel cosy during winters and in summers, it will protect you from the harsh sun and also from bitter cold winters. And, during the rains, cover it and you will not get drenched,” smiled Yadaiah. Yadamma, another speaker shared her association with gongadi and said, “I will teach youngsters how to hand-spin the wool into yarn. This traditional craft should not end with us.”
Soon after, it was time for some music and dance as a group of men and women performed the Oggu Katha and narrated the story of gongadi. The revival of gongadi is an initiative by Anthra in Medak district. The re-weaving and revival of the gongadi is a collective effort of shepherds, spinners, weavers, kada specialists, folk artists and farmers amongst others. The three-day exhibition of ‘gongadi' ends on October 15.
