Sualkuchi – the silk village of Assam

Situated on the northern banks of river Brahmaputra, Sualkuchi is a hamlet that lies in the Kamrup district of Assam. Often referred to as the “Manchester of East”, this village is the nucleus of Assam's silk fabric and is renowned all across the globe for being the weaving village, where majority of the population is engaged in weaving silk clothes. This quaint village has developed over the years as a most important centre for business production of local silk fabrics, especially the Pat and Muga silk. Abou 30 to 35 km from Guwahati, this hamlet coalesce the traditional site of weaving in white and golden silk, known as Pat and Muga, with agriculture and fishing in the neighboring villages. Not very far from the village are the renowned Kamakya temple and the most revered pilgrimages of Assam, Hajo.

Weaver of Sualkuchi

Sualkuchi, an ancient village that houses a huge number of cottage industries was once a craftsmen’s village that had silk-producing and weaving communities, goldsmiths and potters. However, with time silk production, gold smithy, and pottery died out and majority of the population got involved in weaving silk fabrics out of Pat, Muga Silk and Eri Silk. Its history dates back to 4th century BC and its evidence are present in Kautilya’s mention of Suvarnakudya, a place of ancient Kamrupa where the finest quality of Patrorna i.e. pat was produced. Suvarnakudya is the present-day Sualkuchi, which was renamed. It derives the name from Swarnakuchi, which was a village cradled of the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra after the angle like bent of the river at Agiathuri, which was made straight by Bir Chilarai in the year 1562 towards Hatimura. The existence of Sualkuchi during the ancient times is as well proved by the Asam Buranji by Gunabhiram Barua according to which king Dharmapal, gave the land to the Basarioya Brahmins.

There are almost 17000 silk looms in the hamlet that is used to make an assorted range of silk products. Maximum of the silk is woven into mekhela-chadar, the traditional attire of Assamese women and gamuchas, which is the symbol of respect. The demand of Assam silk has increased remarkably from other parts of the country and this increasing demand, the production is now not confined to mekhla-chadar and it has been expanded to making shawls, saris and dress material. This cottage industry of the village provides direct and indirect employment to over 25,000 people. Sualkuchi is a must-visit place of Assam to get a glance of the beautiful silk products that are woven and sold here.

Photo Courtesy: Incredible India