Silk Weaving Tradition of Sualkuchi, Assam
About Chaygaon:
While Sualkuchi is known for its silk weaving skills the people of Chaygaon are also involved to a large extend in weaving.
Post the establishment of a number of government as well as non government organisations involved in production and marketing of silk garments, many locals are slowly getting involved in the process of rearing and weaving the silk threads.
Here the process begins right from the very first phase, where the silk cocoons are separated from the worms and then processed.
Boiling of the Cocoons:
The process begins with boiling the mulberry cocoons left by the silk worms. Water is boiled in a vessel after which the raw cocoons are dipped into them. The cocoons are constantly stirred so as to soak them inside the water to a considerable extent. To this, a spoonful of soda is added to soften the hard cocoons and at the same time separate the thread from the cocoon. This soda softens the natural gum, serecin, which holds the filaments together. Once the cocoons are soft and supple, they are taken out, mashed and spread out in order to derive the fibres. They are then stuck on walls so that the sun dries them off.
