Who are the Buderas

Historically, Buderas are inhabitants of Gangi, Pinswar and Ginwali, three villages in Tehri district of Uttarakhand. They are basically grazers, who, at a certain point of time in history, migrated to Uttarakhand. In Uttarkashi, the migration and settlement of Buderas is around the banks of Bhagirathi river which is primarily inhabited by the tribal semi-nomadic Bhotiya community especially in villages Bagori, Dharali, Harshil, Mukhba, Sukhi, and Jhala. The community members are engaged in  aesthetic knitting and weaving of woolen products mainly using the wool of their own sheep and using natural colors (dyes).

They have been historically identified as pastoralists and traders that are involved in various sectors linked to wool processing. Being a primary source of livelihood for the communities in Bagori and nearby villages, almost every household has been involved in this sector for generations.

 

Weaving in the Himalayas, the art, the tradition and the livelihood

The Handloom industry of Uttarakhand brings out a great variety of textile products ranging from routine objects like socks, caps, scarves, sweaters, mufflers etc. to more specialized items like shawls and carpets. The community aims to bring about a positive impact in the society by promoting and preserving the traditional handloom craft of the Himalayas. The handloom industry provides livelihood to the community folks, empowering women and creating a sustainable model of revenue for the locals.

Association with SECURE Himalaya

We became essenceofhimal to promote and present our finest handcrafted products, after our association with SECURE Himalaya project launched by the Indian Government aiming to conserve forest resources, land, and biodiversity with local and global significance. The project covers the high Himalayan Ecosystem spread over Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. The main aim of the project is to ensure the reduction in wildlife crime, protection of snow leopard and other endangered species, ensuring a secure livelihood to the people in the region. The project engages 800 households to promote handloom & handicrafts as well as ecotourism in Gangotri and Govind landscapes.

Training and Support

UNDP under the Project in Uttarakhand has been working proactively to promote the handloom craft of the Budera community. The activities under the project aim to empower local women weavers by providing them with training in institution building, stitching, dyeing to match the ever evolving market demands, colour schemes and design trends. The master trainers also enhance their skills through exposure visits to various outdoor events and training programs. In a buyer-seller market organized in Uttarkashi the ‘Budera Himalayan Craft’ brand was launched among 150 participants comprising artisans, handloom entrepreneurs, local buyers, exporters from Uttarakhand & craft connoisseurs from Delhi.

Emerging Support

The project aims to empower local women weavers by training them in institution building, stitching, dyeing to match the ever-evolving market demands, colour schemes and design trends. The master trainers also enhance their skills through exposure visits to various outdoor events and training programs. The through this project, these handcrafted products are being introduced into markets as brands developed and created by local artisans. The project has opened doors for the artisans to reach out to the world of consumers and develop the project as a sustainable business model.

 

Uttarakhand Bhotia Dann received GI (Geographical Indication) tag

Uttarakhand Bhotia Dann received GI (Geographical Indication) tag. Bhotia Dan of Uttarakhand from co-op society ‘Renuka Devi Katkar/Bunkar Swayat Sahakarita’ has received GI (Geographical Indication) tag with the support of SECURE Himalaya, UNDP.