Dress, self-defence weapon of trans-Giri area to be patented
Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan,December 19
In a bid to preserve traditions of the trans-Giri area of Sirmaur district, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Sirmaur, Lalit Jain, has initiated the process to get patent for its traditional dress loeya and self-defence weapon dangra.
Loeya is a long woollen tunic worn by men and dangra is an indigenously developed weapon, which is an inherent representative of the Hattee community residing in the trans-Giri area. It is traditionally gifted to the visiting dignitaries by the locals.
The DC said the process of getting their patents had been initiated through the Industries Department. Communication has been initiated with the HIMCOSTE, which is the nodal agency setup by the State Council of Science and Technology for this process in the state, he said.
Information pertaining to the origin and cultural significance of these two articles is being provided to the HIMCOSTE. Despite modernisation, the use of loeya is still in vogue in the trans-Giri area where people fondly use it to beat the biting cold of the winter months and is worn like a coat.
Prepared from the sheep and goat wool by the Hattee community, the loeya is still popular in the area. Tailors who specialise in stitching this woollen dress also reside in the trans-Giri area. Machines have now replaced the process of weaving this dress as it is a time-consuming process. Loeya also symbolises the simplicity of the people while dangra represents the campaign against the evil forces in society.
Dangra has multi-utility and apart from serving as a self-defence weapon for the people who go in the forest to graze their animals, it is also used to cut fodder. It also symbolises the sickle of lord Parshuram, as the locals believe he also carried such a weapon. Historically used as a weapon, it is also used for performing a traditional dance while playing a cultural sport thoda.
The DC said to get their geological indication tag , it was important that these articles were produced, created and sold in the area and efforts were on in this direction.
