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Ponduru Khadi, a traditional handspun and handwoven cotton fabric from Andhra Pradesh, has recently been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

About Ponduru Khadi

• Ponduru Khadi is a heritage textile produced in Ponduru, located in Srikakulam district. Locally, it is known as “Patnulu.” The fabric is widely admired for its extremely fine texture and traditional production techniques that have been preserved for generations.
• The product has also been identified under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative from Srikakulam district, highlighting its cultural and economic importance.
• During India’s freedom struggle, Mahatma Gandhi praised the fabric’s quality in his journal Young India, recognizing it as an example of self-reliant rural craftsmanship.

Key Characteristics

• Ponduru Khadi stands out due to its fully manual production process. Every step i.e. from cotton cleaning to spinning and weaving is done by hand without the use of mechanised tools.
• The cotton used is locally grown in and around Ponduru and comes from traditional varieties such as hill cotton, punasa cotton, and red cotton. These indigenous varieties contribute to the softness and durability of the fabric.
• The yarn used in Ponduru Khadi is extremely fine, with a yarn count ranging between 100 and 120, making it one of the finest handspun cotton fabrics in India.

Unique features that distinguish Ponduru Khadi

• One of the most distinctive aspects of Ponduru Khadi is the traditional cotton-cleaning method. Artisans use the jawbone of a Valuga fish to separate seeds from cotton — a practice not documented elsewhere in the world.
• Spinning is done using a single-spindle charkha with 24 spokes, popularly referred to as the “Gandhi Charkha.”Ponduru is among the very few places in India where this traditional spinning method is still actively practiced.

Why GI Tag Matters

The GI tag legally recognizes Ponduru Khadi as a product with a specific geographical origin and traditional know-how. This helps:

• Protect it from imitation
• Promote rural artisans
• Enhance export and branding potential
• Preserve intangible cultural heritage