It was a special honour for both India and Telangana and its craftspeople. The well-known Gollabhama saris of the State – a distinctive variety – was listed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation as an iconic craft of the country.

This was informed by the State’s Finance and Health Minister, T. Harish Rao, who represents Siddipet constituency in the Assembly where these saris are woven. He said UNESCO had informed the State Government about this inclusion.

These saris got their name from the motifs used to decorate them, which are gollabhama or milkmaid. Woven onto the border it refers to the Golla community.

It is said that milkmaids used to carry milk and curd in pots as offerings to Lord Krishna. The silhouette of these women in bright ghagra and choli inspired weavers to replicate it leading to Gollabhama weaving style.

The three main motifs used in the saris are Gollabhama, Bathukamma (stack of beautiful flowers) and Kolatam (stick dance), with Gollabhama being the most popular in the lot.

Rao while calling UNESCO’s move as an honour to the Siddipet weavers said the Government was making all out efforts to promote these saris through the State Textile Department and intends to publicise them by setting up stalls around the country.

Incidentally, Gollabhama saris were granted geographical index tag 10 years ago.

Telangana’s Himru weaving and Gongadi sheep wool blankets too are part of UNESCO’s list.