Eight Months Of Hard Work For One Festival, MP's Ratlam Artisans Struggle To Keep Govardhan Puja Tassel Tradition Alive
Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh): When cattle step out adorned in colourful silk tassels during Govardhan Puja, their festive appearance carries months of painstaking work by artisan families of Semliya village near Namli. For generations, several families here have handcrafted decorative silk threads, locally used to adorn cattle during the festival. Made from silk, coloured threads and shiny materials,…
In the village of Semliya, near Namli in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, a centuries-old tradition is at risk as artisans struggle to keep the Govardhan Puja tassel-making craft alive. For generations, families in this area have toiled to create intricate, colourful silk tassels that adorn cattle during the festival. Crafted from silk, coloured threads, and shiny materials, the process requires meticulous weaving and decoration.
However, with only a few months of demand during the festive season, artisans are finding it increasingly challenging to sustain their livelihoods. Rising costs of raw materials and limited sales have made the craft less profitable, forcing many to seek alternative employment. As the younger generation sees little future in continuing the tradition, the skill set is at risk of disappearing.
The decline of the art form threatens not only the craft itself but also a centuries-old practice of adorning cattle during Govardhan Puja. To ensure the continuation of this folk tradition, artisan families stress the need for sustainable livelihoods and for the younger generation to find value in preserving the skill.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
