Panipat - The City of Weavers

When you hear the name Panipat, you might think of the legendary Battle of Panipat. But Panipat is especially known as a city of makers, weavers, and dreamers. Welcome to Panipat, the City of Weavers, where the wheels of textiles are as steady as the city's growth. 

In the heart of the Industrial Zone of Panipat, which has connections to the national highway, has world-class infrastructure with facilities like a sewerage system, a common effluent treatment plant and a power house, every thread tells a story. 

The city not only turns fabrics into clothes but also turns people’s lives around with its unlimited opportunities for employment. Like birds migrating for food and shelter, people migrate here in order to lead a better life. 

Why Is Panipat Called the “City of Weavers”?

Panipat is known as the City of Weavers. But it's much more than that. The threads don’t just weave clothes but they weave the destinies of millions of people. It is a city filled with culture, tradition and business that connects people together. Together, so many hands join to weave pieces that make their way from Tokyo to Toronto. 

Panipat gained its name from its thriving weaving and textile industry, which employs thousands and exports over the world. The Haryana Tourism Department proudly states the city's strong loom-based industry, claiming that it is one of India's greatest manufacturing hubs for carpets, blankets, and other home furnishings. (1) It is more than just a city, it is a story, it is the magic in the mundane.

History of Weaving in Panipat

History not only remembers Panipat for its battles but also its textile industry. Panipat has a long history with textiles and a substantial contribution to India's handloom industry.

During the Mughal/ Delhi Sultanate: 

Panipat's link with textiles stretches back to the Mughal Empire, when the area was known for its high-quality fabrics and handcrafted carpets. Owing to its strategic location on the very popular trading route to Afghanistan and its close proximity to Delhi, Panipat was a very popular hub for Dalichas (carpets) in Persian style. 

Over time, the area grew into a major textile market, attracting artists and dealers across India and beyond.

Post Partition: 

The weaving methods were passed down through generations, and local artists developed a reputation for creating exquisite patterns. During the partition in 1947, professional weavers from Sindh, Jhang, and Multan (now in Pakistan) came to India, where they set up their looms and continued to carry the work of their ancestors.

Mohammad Gulzar, a 73-year-old weaver from Panipat, remembers how his grandpa weaved by the light of oil lamps. He came to Panipat after the partition.

Current State of Weavers: 

Today, Panipat's weaving industry thrives, as ancient skills are coupled with modern technology to fulfil the needs of a worldwide market. With a steady growth over the last 45 years, it employs more than 60,000 weavers in the handloom industry. (2) 

What Makes Panipat the City of Weavers?

The weavers who bring magic to the mundane make Panipat the City of Weavers.

• Employment statistics: 

Over the last 45 years, Panipat's handloom sector has grown steadily with around 25000 handlooms operating in the region, employing over 60,000 people. (3) The bulk of the weavers are migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal and some others from neighbouring areas to work in Panipat's handloom operations. Traditional handloom items are in high demand on the international market, which helps to keep this industry alive and thriving.

Munna, an artisan, told Crafts of Haryana, “I am grateful for this industry. There was a time when I didn’t have work, so I migrated to Panipat, and now 10 of my family members have found employment in this industry. Our livelihood depends on it.”

• Types of products made: 

The handloom industry manufactures various products. Here are some of them:

1. Dhurries: Dhurries are not your typical carpets; they are exquisite works of art that incorporate history, culture, and workmanship into every thread. 

2. Woollen blankets: Also known as relief blankets, these woollen blankets are made of soft wool material and are very comfortable and warm

3. Carpets and Mats: These are often made of recycled fabrics and transformed into beautiful carpets. 

4. Curtains and cushion covers: Panipat's home décor line is highly sought after worldwide, offering everything from colourful embroidered cushions that convey folktale tales to pastel curtains and more..

Rani, an artisan, works with her mother in the industry every day to stitch beautiful cushion covers for people, which tell the lore of her rural life.

Panipat: The Global Textile Recycling Hub

Yes, you read that right! Panipat is not just weaving; this city is also giving a new life to waste fabric.

Panipat, Asia's largest textile and recycling hub, is home to an estimated 150-200 micro to medium-sized businesses that treat used consumer and textile waste from domestic as well as international places. 

Panipat receives about 250 tons of textile waste every day. Upon arrival, the garbage is manually sorted into several categories before being either prepared for resale or recycled into a range of goods. (4) 

Panipat's manufacturers are establishing new norms in areas such as natural resource optimisation and vertical integration. There has also been a greater emphasis on certifications and a trend towards finer-count yarns.

Chandan, the owner of one of the recycling factories, said: As manufacturers, we aren’t just focused on recycling; our textile practices are also eco-friendly and sustainable.

Explore Other Handicrafts of Haryana

There are other very noteworthy crafts of Haryana that you might want to check out:

Notable Places to Buy Authentic Handicrafts of Haryana 

If you want to get your hands on the Arts and Crafts of Haryana, you might want to check out these places:  Local markets: Panipat's local bazaars are ideal for buying recycled fabrics, handcrafted carpets, and cushion covers straight from producers.

Surajkund Mela (Faridabad): An annual crafts fair showcasing artisans from Haryana.

Online Websites and Stores: You can shop from some really good websites like Crafts of Haryana, which sells traditional products like Phulkari Dupatta, Wooden Toys, Clay Diyas and many such art and crafts of Haryana.

Conclusion

Panipat, The Hub Of Handloom weaves stories with its threads everyday. Its magic is felt all over the world and it is a pride of India. Millions of artisans like Ghazal, Munna and Rani depend on the city for their livelihood. With its ancient history and life long legacy, it has marked a name for itself in the globe and is expected to grow more and more. 

So, next time someone mentions Panipat for its glory in the battlefield, remind them also of the hands that join everyday to weave the stories of so many people. The City of Weavers breathes handlooms and turns it into art. Sustainable and environmentally friendly, Panipat is an international textile star.

Citations: 

1.  https://haryanatourism.gov.in/destinations/panipat/

2. https://textilevaluechain.in/in-depth-analysis/textile-market-report/panipat-city-of-handlooms-international-home-textiles-hub#:~:text=There%20has%20been%20a%20steady%20growth%20in%20the,are%20migrants%20from%20U.P%2C%20Bihar%20and%20West%20Bengal.  

3. https://textilevaluechain.in/in-depth-analysis/textile-market-report/panipat-city-of-handlooms-international-home-textiles-hub#:~:text=There%20has%20been%20a%20steady%20growth%20in%20the,are%20migrants%20from%20U.P%2C%20Bihar%20and%20West%20Bengal.  

4. https://closedloopfashion.com/news-at-clf/panipat-a-visit-to-asias-largest-textile-recycling-hub/