GAMOSA
WHY IN NEWS ?
- A newly formed Bangla Sahitya Sabha in Assam (BSSA) used a hybrid creation.
- An Assamese gamosa and a Bengali gamcha, each cut in half and sewn together to felicitate guests.
MORE ABOUT THE NEWS
- This fusion did not go down well with a section of Assamese society.
- Protests broke out in different parts of the state, particularly by Assam nationalist organisations and student groups, claiming that this creation was an insult to the Assamese gamosa.
- On the other hand, the Bengali gamcha does not have such symbolism attached to it and is a utilitarian item for household use.
- Professor Baruah points out that a completely different garment ,a long scarf called an uttariya is used in cultural programmes and to welcome guests in Bengali society.
ABOUT GAMOSA
- The Gamosa or Gamusa is ‘Body wipes or Towel’) an article of significance for the indigenous people of Assam, India.
- It is generally a white rectangular piece of cloth with primarily a red border on three sides and red woven motifs on the fourth.
- Although cotton yarn is the most common material for making/weaving gamosas, there are special occasion ones made from Pat silk.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
- Significantly the gamusa is used equally by all irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds.
- At par with gamusa, there are beautifully woven symbolic clothes with attractive graphic designs being used by different cultural sub-systems and ethno-cultural groups as well.
- A Gamusa border with a traditional handwoven motif called goxa.
- There were various other symbolic elements and designs traditionally in use, which are now only found in literature, art, sculpture, architecture, etc.
- On December 13 of 2022, Gamosa of Assam received the Geographical Indication tag.
SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, ART&CULTURE
SOURCE : THE INDIAN EXPRESS
