Narayanmatales - Lumbini Province - Nepal

Chali Maya Tamang, a native from Dang residing at Palpa 7hrs drive away from home to garnish her craftmanship in making Dhaka and Palpa popular about Dhaka industry. Tamang Didi getting back to Palpali Dhaka Uddhyog post covid after 2 years which she practiced for almost 10 years, she was joyous to share about her experience to support her family after her husband left for middle east in search of better job opportunities. She shared about the oldest methods of pitloon taan, Handloom taan, jekar taan started by Purnamaya Maharjan Maa, a native from Kirtipur brought by King Mahendra to engage women for their valuable skillset and uplift their status in the society since 2015 B.S with 7 Taans. A visionary lady who was able to engage ladies from 36 districts + and give them employment and she has been a great advocator for women's empowerment in true means. “The fabric saw its glory days during the reign of King Mahendra when Dhaka topi was declared Nepal's national cap and a symbol of Nepali identity.” Wearing Palpali Dhaka became a status symbol and fashion statement, according to the report. After the painful decade of the Maoist civil war (1996-2006), there was the Royal massacre of 2001 that marked the subsequent end of Nepal’s long-standing monarchy. The hilltop town of Tansen, the administrative center of Palpa, was a flashpoint during the fighting. In the industrial sector, radicalized labour unions and extortion became commonplace. No industry escaped the impact of the war, least of all Palpali Dhaka. With its bright reds, greens and yellows, and its threads are intimately interwoven with the memories of every Nepali. One that is tucked deep in our cupboards with our most precious possessions. Palpali Dhaka has made a comeback with a zest to revive itself as the go-to statement fabric that fits in today’s lifestyle not only in Nepal but the world over. Palpali will give new life to a fabric proudly woven by the hands of the people of Palpa. The dhaka industry in Palpa started in the late 1950s. The industry flourished for almost three decades. During its heyday, it employed more than 2,000 weavers, and the distinctive cloth was sold in over 36 districts across Nepal. Imported products were scarce and expensive then, and Nepalis bought the textiles from Palpa in large quantities. But at one time, a flood of cheap imports had nearly pushed the locally made fabric out of the market. Local weavers held out against the foreign onslaught with persistence, and the industry is now making a splendid comeback. “The fabric saw its glory days during the reign of King Mahendra when Dhaka topi was declared Nepal's national cap and a symbol of Nepali identity.”