President releases postage stamps on Traditional Indian Textiles
11 Dec '09
4 min read
The art belongs to two distinct schools, the Masulipatnam, which was patronized by Muslim rulers and the Sri Kalahasti which was patronized in medieval times by Hindu temples. In keeping with the norms and requirements of the rulers, cloths from the former school was influenced by Persian painting and the tenets of Islam, and the Kalahasti School reproduces scenes from Hindu Mythology.
Apa Tani Weaves - The Apa Tani tribe inhabits the lower Subansiri distict of Arunachal Pradesh. Ziro, a picturesque valley-town in the Apa Tani Plateau is situated north of the capital Itanagar, and is the home of the tribe. All the tribes in Arunachal Pradesh weave their own cloth and the Apa Tani are no exception. Almost every household possesses implements for weaving and one or two portable loin loom, property inherited by the women of the family. The traditional Apatani colours are red, green & yellow obtained from leaves, roots, creepers and the barks of trees.
The ordinary Apa Tani cloth gets its character from the use of broad stripes alternating with narrow ones. Of other geometric patterns achieved with the extra weft technique, there is an almost inexhaustible variety.