Eluru Carpet and Floor Mat Weaving Tradition of West Godavari

Eluru, the administrative capital of West Godavari district, has a centuries-old tradition of carpet and floor mat weaving practised by the Padmasali weaver community. Eluru carpets use a cotton warp and wool or cotton weft, woven in geometric designs on traditional handlooms — pit looms for wool carpets and frame looms for cotton mats. The design vocabulary includes traditional motifs of peacocks, deer, vines, and borders derived from temple textile traditions. Eluru rugs were historically supplied to royal courts and temple halls across coastal Andhra. The Eluru Handloom Weavers' Cooperative and the AP Handloom Development Corporation support the weaving community with raw material procurement, design inputs, and market access through government retail chains.