Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part A (2021)

Abstract
This research paper seeks to examine the Traditional Handloom weaving practice among the Gaddi Scheduled Tribe of Jammu and Kashmir. This work is based on primary data collected during survey in six Gaddi inhabited villages of Bhaderwah valley of Jammu and Kashmir. Frequent field visits were conducted to the study area for collection of data from January to May 2021. The data was collected about different woollen products made by Gaddi tribe, different traditional tools used for making woollen products, different plant species used for making these tools and allied information. The information was collected from a total of 60 respondents belonging to Gaddi tribe from 6 villages. Gaddis are highly skilled in making traditional woollen products at home which, inter alia, include their traditional costume and blankets. A total of 13 woollen products were made by Gaddis out of which 8 products viz. chola, dora, unala coat, unali baskaat, unalakurta, unali suthan, topi and jarabe comprised their ethnic and traditional costume which is their cultural identity. Three different types of woollen blankets viz. chitru/kambal, chadar and fadki were also made by Gaddis.13 different traditional tools used by Gaddi tribe of study area for making woollen products have also been documented in the present study. These tools are khaddi, naal, taharnethi, aeirnoti, charkha, therka (aeti bala), therka (dagdu bala), jandri, kaanghi (motti), Kaanghi (nikki), unsaan, konkdi and kaat. These traditional tools are made from 10 different locally growing plant species belonging to 9 genera and 8 families (Table 1). The maximum number of plant species belongs to family pinaceae (3 sps.). The largest number of tools were made from Cedrus deodara (8) followed by Fraxinus excelsior (6) and Aesculus indica, Pinus wallichiana and Quercus floribunda (4 each). The results of the study reveal that gaddis of Bhaderwah are highly skilled in making woollen products by using traditional handloom.