Why in the news?

  • Ponduru Khadi received the GI tag.

Ponduru Khadi

  • What is it?: Ponduru Khadi is a renowned handspun and handwoven cotton fabric from Andhra Pradesh
  • Importance:
    • During the pre-independence period, Mahatma Gandhi highlighted the virtues of the fabric in Young India, the national weekly edited by him.
    • Nominated under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme for Srikakulam district.
    • Locally known as Patnulu
  • Characteristics:
    • Cleaning Method: Cotton is cleaned using the jawbone of the Valuga fish, a practice unique to Ponduru Khadi
    • Ponduru is the only place in India where spinners still use single-spindle charkhas with 24 spokes, known as the Gandhi Charkha.
    • The fabric has a very high yarn count of about 100–120 counts.
    • The production process is entirely manual.

Source: The Hindu