Kosa Silk Weaving Raigarh Champa Chhattisgarh

Kosa silk is Chhattisgarh's native tussar silk, named for the kosa cocoon of the Antheraea mylitta silkworm reared on arjun and saja trees in the sal forests of Raigarh, Champa, and Sakti districts. Weavers from the Devangan and Kosta communities produce Kosa sarees, dupattas, and fabric on pit-looms using natural golden-tan kosa yarn with supplementary weft patterns. The GI tag recognises Kosa silk of Raigarh and Champa as a distinct heritage textile. Kosa weaving is distinguished from Bhagalpur tussar by the use of local forest-reared cocoons with higher sericin content giving extra lustre. Champa town is the commercial hub of kosa weaving with over 10,000 weavers. The Chhattisgarh Handloom Development Corporation supplies kosa yarn from state filatures and manages direct sales at national craft fairs.