KMB-2025: When Women Weave Stories from the Heart on Rugs

KOCHI:
Each handmade Manchaha (from the heart) rug hanging on the wall and adorning the floor in ABC Art Room, Bastion Bungalow, Fort Kochi has a story to say. Very aesthetic and functional, the rugs stand out for their images of traditions, heritage and nature woven in appealing hues and texture at the Manchaha Project Workshop under the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF).

The rugs portray stories of artisans’ experiences and life around them, some about how the rug- making changed their lives.

According to Anjani Raval, the facilitator and Manchaha in-charge, “Manchaha is a segment of Jaipur Rugs, an initiative to empower women who are hardly allowed to go out to work. They weave the rugs with the excess, leftover yarns from rug industry and looms. They pursue it with passion based on their own ideas and concepts. After every six to eight inches, they roll the rug and create new narratives.”

She said Jaipur Rugs founded by Nand Kishore Chaudhary in Rajasthan has over 40,000 artisans and the majority are women.

“Rug making was male-dominated and had children as they are adept at knot-tying. The founder rid the middlemen and children. Manchaha has around 1,500 to 2,000 rural women mostly from Rajasthan and a few from Uttar Pradesh working from home at their own pace and get more money. We do suggest the size (6/9 or 4/6) in accordance with their preference. They are happier as they let go of their thoughts on the rugs, like a diary, offering a cathartic effect,” Raval said.

Wall notes describe each work. ‘Chanchal’ (playful) by Rukmani Devi who became deaf after an accident tells how her playful mind designed the story of camels walking, igloo-shaped tent houses and puzzle-shapes. Dinacharya is about the story of everyday life, and ‘Thyohar’, about festivals, each piece unique in colour and design.

In a corner, a table with craft material is open to visitors to ‘Make Your Manchaha’. People made wall frames, hangers, trinkets, bracelets, and some other forms in a contest.

“I have made this girl, Aby. What makes her perfect is her imperfection. If this was a contest, I would have won,” said Jonathan David from Israel who arrived in Kochi from Sri Lanka. “I like viewing art and enjoyed the session as it’s not guided,” he said

Floae Maatiole from France, who is travelling in India, said, “I really enjoyed it. I was so surprised to find such a workshop where you can free your creativity.”

Aisha Ayoob, from Chullikkal who follows ABC Art Room, said, “I attend all the workshops that interest me.” She demonstrated the tufting method of rug-making that she learnt.