Sircilla weavers’ skill showcased through Jota statue at Collectorate junction

Sircilla, famed for its weaving tradition, has installed a Jota statue at the Collectorate junction to depict the entire process of cloth weaving, from cotton to handloom. The installation, along with other statues, highlights the lifestyle of the weaving community and is drawing visitors.

Rajanna-Sircilla: Sircilla is known for weaving. Local weavers have gained worldwide recognition with their skill of weaving sarees, which can be folded to fit in a matchbox and passed through a ring and large needle.

Weaving cloth is much harder. However, a majority of the people, who wear clothes purchased in shops, are not aware of the process of cloth weaving.

To explain the process to the people, especially the present generation, ‘Jota’ (Nade) statue has been installed at the Collectorate office junction, on the outskirts of Sircilla town.

There is a ‘Nethanna’ statue (a weaver engaged in his work in front of a handloom) near the old bus stand in Sircilla town. It depicts the occupation of the weaving community.

However, the jota statue explains the entire process of cloth weaving right from making yarn out of cotton, applying colour, rolling thread to ‘kande’ and weaving cloth on handloom.

Besides installing a statue of jota in the middle of the junction, more statues are also installed around it explaining different works in the process. It also explains the lifestyle of the community since the entire family including men and women is engaged in the process.

The statue is attracting visitors. Since it is located on Siddipet and Vemulawada main road, devotees from Hyderabad and other places stop at the statue for a while and take selfies.

Local weavers are expressing happiness over the installation of ‘Jota’ statues, which explains their lifestyle and hard work to the rest of the world as well as future generations. Instead of a selfie point, it should be a landmark of the weavers profession, they opined.

Sircilla weavers faced severe hardship due to lack of employment. There are incidents of weavers committing suicides unable to cope up with financial burdens.

However, they got respite after the separate Telangana state was formed. In order to provide employment to weavers through the year, the then BRS government placed orders such as Bathukamma saree, Ramzan Tohfa, RVM and others besides providing subsidies. As a result, they got work throughout the year.