Bagru art and Venkatagiri saris get GI tag

Venkatagiri saris from Andhra Pradesh and Bagru, an ancient art and craft form from Rajasthan, were given the geographical indication tag by the Geographical Indications office . A geographical indication (GI) tag is a sign used to denote products with a specific geographical location or origin. The use of a GI tag may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin, thus enhancing its marketability. Taking the name from a village in Rajasthan, Bagru is a form of block printing. Officials at the GI office in Chennai, who handled the registration, said Bagru is an otherwise sleepy and desolate village on the Jaipur-Ajmer Road in Rajasthan, which has become the cynosure of many fashion houses and boutiques. Bagru boasts of a handful of crafts persons who still use traditional vegetable dyes for printing. First, the cloth is treated with Fuller’s earth, soaked in turmeric and then stamped using natural dyes made of alum, turmeric, pomegranate, dried flowers, indigo and so on. With the GI tag, the Venkatagiri sari has become the 18th Indian saree to get a GI tag. Henceforth, the Venkatagiri sari, made of pure cotton with gold and silver zari work, will sport the GI tag in Chennai’s textile shops. Besides being suitable for the summers, these hand-woven saris remain soft and do not run colour when washed. Special care is taken to use soft water while dyeing and treating the yarn. Last year, the registry accorded geographical status to 11 new products. The items were Champagne from France, Napa Valley Wine from the US, Central Travancore Jaggery, Wayanad Gandhakasala Rice and Jeerakasala Rice from Kerala, Champa Silk Saree and fabrics from Chhattisgarh, Kota Doria (Logo) Handicraft from Rajasthan, Nashik Grapes from Maharashtra, Surat Zari Craft from Gujarat, Cheriyal Painting and Pembarthi Metal Craft from Andhra Pradesh.