Powerloom Map of Bihar

AURANGABAD

BANKA

BHAGALPUR

GAYA

MADHUBANI

NALANDA

NAWADA

PATNA

ROHTAS

SIWAN

MAJOR HANDLOOM CLUSTER IN GAYA

MANPUR HANDLOOM CLUSTER

CHAKUND HANDLOOM CLUSTER
KARMONI HANDLOOM CLUSTER
BARACHITTI HANDLOOM CLUSTER
TIKARI HANDLOOM CLUSTER
 Manpur Cluster, Gaya, Bihar
INTRODUCTION
Weaving is one of the traditional heritages of Bihar. Its well known for its sericulture, of silk
yarn and weaving them into lovely products. This silk is of a distinct and special type. It is
known as Tussah or Tussar Silk. Over the centuries weaving of Bihar exuberant their artistic
vibrancy & aesthetic appeal through their intrinsic colourful product like silk Sarees, silk
dress material, bed sheets, curtains, towel, lungi, kurta payjama etc.

Manpur, Tekari, Chakand and other villages of the region houses a number of weaver
families. Manpur Produces not only fine Tussar silk but also a large number of gamchhas
typically used at most pilgrimages. The weaver families produce wht they can sell to traders
of Bhagalpur or to the local traders based in Gaya. Some weavers have attempted natural
dyed Tussar silk fabrics such as stoles, dress material etc.

GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION

Location

Manpur is block in Gaya District, India. The town is famous for powerlooms and handlooms
and some railway factories. Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
Situated on the banks of Falgu Rivers (Niranjana as mentioned in Ramayana), it is a place
sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions. It is surrounded by small rocky hills
(Mangala-Gauri), Shringa-sthan, Ram-Shila and Brahmavoni by three sides and te river
flowing on the fourth (western) side. Gaya was a part of the ancient state Magadha.
Close to Buddha Tree:
The Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya that is 15 km.
from Gaya town. Ghats and temples line the banks of the sacred Falgu River. Trees such
pipal trees and Akshayavat, the undying banyan, are especially sacred. Gaya is significant to
Hindus from the point of view of salvation to the souls of ancestors (a ritual called
pindadanam).
Climate:

Bihar is mildly cold in the winter ( the lowest temperatures being around 5 to 10
degrees Celsius; 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Winter months are December and January. It is
hot in the summer (with average highs around 35-40 Celsius; 95-105 Fahrenheit). April to
mid June is the hot months. The monsoon months of June, July, August and September see
good rainfall. October & November and February & March has pleasant climate.

Roadways, Railways, Airways:

Gaya is well connected to the rest of India and the world by roadways, railways and
airways. Gaya is the second most important station in Bihar after Patna. It is a junction and is
connected to the all the four metropolis New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai through
important Broad Gauge routes (direct trains). Now it is also directly connected to Guwahati
(N-E India) including the Grand Chord line. There is a direct non-stop train, the Mahabodhi
Express from New Delhi to Gaya daily.

Neighbouring State and City:

Country: Nepal, State: Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Cities: Bihar Sharif,
Nawada, Koderma, Jahanabad, Aurranabad etc.

Facilities / Infrastructure

There are good schools and colleges in Gaya District, Facility of Bank loan is
available, but its not reaching the right and required person. The Powerloom weavers get
easy bank loan as compared to Handloom. Most of the time they do not repay the loan due to
political reasons. There is no other facility for the weavers in powerloom.

Weavers Community:

In Manpur village, the young generation has taken forward the heritage of ancestors
but most of them are struggling to run powerloom full fledge. This is due to the lack of raw
material and product supplied at minimal cost to Mahajan, the local trader. Due to hike is
prices of raw materials and unavailability of new markets, its difficult for them to run the
powerloom. Out of 9000 to 10000 powerlooms only 4000 to 5000 are running regularly.
Most of the weavers still depend on Mahajan for the raw material and in return they get
minimum pay of approximately Rs.150 to 200/day. Very few weavers can afford to purchase
raw material on their own and they get better profit margin in comparison to those who are
working for Mahajan.