Silk Weaving Tradition of Sualkuchi, Assam
The weaving tradition can be traced to the 11th century when king Dharma Pal, of the Pala dynasty, sponsored the craft and brought 26 weaving families from Tantikuchi to Saulkuchi.
The cottage industry later took shape when the shams occupied Sualkuchi defeating the Mughals in the mid 17th century.
According to official sources currently there are about 17,000 Silk looms working in Sualkuchi to produce different range of silk products like Mekhela Chaddar, Riha etc.
More than 25,000 people are directly or indirectly employed under the silk industry in Sualkuchi.
The current annual consumption of mulberry silk in Sualkuchi is nearly 2.00 lakh KG, Muga and other allied silk is nearly 98,000 KG against the total consumption of 4,38,870 K.G.Silk yarn in Assam which includes Eri silk also.
Out of the total production of about 42,19,055 linear meters of silk fabrics in Assam, Sualkuchi alone produces more than 31.00 lakhs linear mtrs. of silk fabrics valuing Rs.9,000.00 lakhs approximately.
