Why In The News?

• The Narasapur crochet lace craft, Majuli masks and Majuli Manuscript Paintings has got the Geographical Indications (GI) tag.

Narasapur Crochet Lace Craft:

=> Region: The craft is geographically limited to 19 mandals in West Godavari in the Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh.

=> Background: The women of the farming community of this region started creating highly attractive artefacts from colourful lace, about 150 years ago. In 2004, the first of its kind lace park in India was established here where thousands of crochet lace makers can market their products.

=> Artwork: The lace work is done using thin threads and these are again woven with thin crochet needles of varying sizes. The products are available in vibrant colors like orange, green, blue, whitered, and beige. The crochet lace products are also exported to countries like the UK, USA, France, etc.

Majuli Masks:

=> Region: Both Majuli Mask of Assam & Assam Majuli Manuscript Painting find its root in the river island district of Majuli of the state. Majuli is the largest river island in the world and the seat of Assam’s neo-Vaishnavite tradition.

=> Art work: These are handmade masks and are traditionally used to depict characters in bhaonas, or theatrical performances with devotional messages under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition. The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons, animals and birds. The masks are made of bamboo, clay, dung, cloth, cotton, and wood.

=> Background: It was introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva.

Art Practised in Monasteries:

Majuli has 22 sattras, and the mask-making tradition is by and large concentrated in four of them — Samaguri Sattra, Natun Samaguri Sattra, Bihimpur Sattra and Alengi Narasimha Sattra. Sattras are monastic institutions established by Srimanta Sankardev and his disciples as centres of religious, social and cultural reform.

Majuli Manuscript Painting:

It is a form of painting — also originating in the 16th century — done on sanchi pat, or manuscripts made of the bark of the sanchi or agar tree, using homemade ink. The uniqueness lies in manuscript writing styles—Gargayan script, Kaithall, and Bamunia. These Paintings depict Hindu epic tales, particularly Lord Krishna’s Bhagavata Purana narratives, showcasing cultural heritage and artistic finesse. The earliest example of an illustrated manuscript is said to be a rendering of the Adya Dasama of the Bhagwat Purana in Assamese by Srimanta Sankardev. This art was patronised by the Ahom kings. It continues to be practised in every sattra in Majuli.

What is a GI Tag?

• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that come under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
• Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years, it can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each.