Bawan Buti Sari, Pattharkatti StoneCraft & Pidhiya Painting get GI tag

Patna: Three distinctive traditional products of Bihar — Nalanda’s Bawan Buti Sari and Fabric, Gaya’s Pattharkatti Stone Craft and Bhojpur’s Pidhiya Painting — have been awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag, an official said on Saturday.“With the grant of GI tag to these three products, Bihar’s handicraft and handloom sector will gain a new identity at the national and international levels. This will create new opportunities for employment and income for local artisans, weavers and women’s self-help groups,” an official of the Bihar unit of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) said.The GI tag provides legal protection to a product’s uniqueness, quality and geographical identity.

The certification is granted by the Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai.The renowned Bawan Buti Sari and Fabric of Nalanda district is a unique example of Bihar’s rich weaving tradition. In this distinctive textile art, 52 traditional Buddhist and cultural motifs, known as butis, are woven into fabric using handlooms. The craft is primarily practised in Baswan Bigha and nearby areas, where weaving families have preserved the tradition for generations.

Similarly, the stone craft of Pattharkatti village in Gaya district has been known for its excellence for nearly 300 years. Local artisans create statues of Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavir, deities and other artistic figures from black granite stone found in the region. It is also believed that granite from Pattharkatti was used in the construction of the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.Pidhiya Painting of the Bhojpur region is a distinctive folk art form traditionally practised by women during festivals and social occasions.

Through natural colours and traditional symbols, the paintings vividly portray folk life, family relationships, religious beliefs and rural culture.Welcoming the recognition, information and public relations department and rural development minister Shrawan Kumar said, “With this achievement, the state’s rich cultural and handicraft heritage has gained a significant milestone. It will provide national-level reputation to all these three products.”Shrawan, who hails from Nalanda, also said he had been gifting Bawan Buti fabrics to prominent personalities for several years. He recalled that President Droupadi Murmu was presented with a Bawan Buti Sari during her visit to Nalanda district.