Darkot Gaon

 

On handloom day - Darkot gaon ki kahani (A glimpse from Darkot Village)

Handloom means clothe made on loom operated by hand, not machine.

Darkot is small village near Munsiari. Total of about 90 households.

The speciality about village is that each and every house has a hand loom. And every house has sheep and angora rabbits for wool, along with other livestock - cows, buffaloes and dogs and cats, hens etc , which is quite common in village households. 

Our guide, Pushpa belongs to Bhutiya tribe, who are main indigenous of this village. 

She knew every person and every street and every turn here.

She took us around the village. 

Bhamri Devi readily agreed to show me her loom work. She generally works for five to six

hours in a day on loom. One room is specifically dedicated to it. 

Its a small room enough to fit in loom 

and a stool for her to sit. 

One side window lits the room. 

After finishing her household chores she sit on her loom humming to her ownself, or sometimes playing music on fm radio. 

Her one kid works in city and other study in college in hostel. When i asked will they come and continue this work. She said, ‘unki marzi hai, maine dono ko sikhaya hai’ (its their choice, I taught them both!) 

Women of the village collect hand woven

 shawls, socks, gloves, stoles, rugs etc 

and submit at Mati Sangathan , a locally run women support group at Munsiari village, 

and get paid. 

Every household has constant income coming from handloom along with other sources like 

agriculture or small shops. 

   

They get together to discuss their challenges and also to celebrate their wins. Handloom has brought these women together, woven their lives in common thread, given them self sustenance, a reason to celebrate.