Durrie Carpet Weaving in Nanded Region

Nanded district has a tradition of durrie (flat-woven cotton rug) production in some of its market towns, associated with the Muslim weaver communities who settled in the region during the Nizam period. Durries are woven on frame looms using cotton yarn in geometric patterns of chevrons, diamonds, and stripes. Traditional Nanded durrie patterns show a distinct influence of both Marathwada geometric embroidery and Hyderabad carpet design traditions. The rugs are used for prayer, floor covering, and as horse blankets. Natural dyed durries using madder-red, indigo-blue, and turmeric-yellow yarn on undyed cotton ground preserve a heritage production system increasingly rare in machine-dye dominated markets. Women's weaving cooperatives in Nanded region have been supported by NABARD craft cluster programmes. Export demand for artisanal handmade durries from interior design markets in Europe and North America has created new revenue opportunities for Nanded weavers.