Weaving as a Community Activity

Winding its way through fields dotted with date palms, the country road leads to a village clearing.

The earthen streets leading out from it open into a busy world of weaving and associated activities.

Stone paved homes with terraced verandahs are centres of activity for different stages of production.

For this village of weavers, there is no separation between living and working spaces.

Where beds are rolled out for rest at night is where the yarn is processed during the day.

Many spaces in a home, thus, have multiple purposes and uses.

The loom is an important part of their homes.

Whether sitting at the loom, or around it, various weaving and support activities are carried out by different members within the family.

The village street becomes an extension of a weaver’s workplace, especially suitable for stretching the lengthy warp yarn.

A weaver stretches the warp yarn along the street. No one minds as weavers’ homes flank the street, and they all participate in the same activity.

The warp is stretched out in the open, while the rest of village life carries on in the background.

The younger generation, coming home from cities during work or study breaks, join the family to help out in many of the weaving processes.

Little children use various raw materials to make up their own games.

Since all members of the family are involved in some part of the weaving process, children grow up being very familiar with the natural atmosphere of a weaver’s life.

Whether they will choose the path of their parents and continue with the craft, or explore a new avenue when the time comes, weaving is a skill they absorb along the way.

Read more about the art of Telia Rumal here:

- Telia Rumal
- Weaving Telia Rumal