Muslim artisans craft sacred threads for Hindu rituals in UP's Lalgopalganj

The small town of Lalgopalganj, which is located a few kilometres from Prayagraj along the Lucknow highway, is well-known for a distinctive craft that has its roots in common customs.

In workshops and courtyards across the town, artisans spend hours preparing kalawa, the sacred red thread tied on the wrist during Hindu rituals, along with chunaris that are offered at temples across India.

Much of this work is carried out by families from the Rangrez community, most of whom are Muslims. The word “Rangrez,” from Urdu, literally means “dyers,” reflecting their traditional occupation.

Every year, the routine of crafting these sacred items often coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramzan as well as Hindu festivals such as Navratri. During these periods, artisans balance long hours of labour with observing dawn-to-dusk fasts.

According to Mohd Tahir, an Artisan, "We are around 1,500 to 2,000 people working here. During the month of Ramzan, we continue working. Our products are sent to places like Vindhyachal and Varanasi. Usually, when Navratri approaches, we start work about two to two-and-a-half months in advance.

When asked about the challenges that they face while fasting for the feast and working on this art they said, ‘We don’t face any difficulty.' It is a holy month for us, and at the same time, our work also continues alongside it."

Work in Lalgopalganj begins early in the day. Dyeing often starts before dawn, and by sunrise, freshly coloured threads and cloth are spread out in the open to dry.

The production process remains largely manual, with nearly every member of the family taking part. From dyeing and drying to weaving and finishing, the craft is sustained by collective effort.

The finished products range from simple sacred threads that cost just a few rupees to elaborate chunaris priced at several hundred.

Meanwhile, Krishna, another artisan, said, “Here, sacred wrist threads and chunris are made with interlocked designs. Items used for religious offerings, such as the coconuts and chunris offered by devotees, are all prepared here.”

 According to Rajat, another artisan, the whole village is involved in this work.

We observe the fasts and continue working at the same time."

In the weeks leading up to Navratri, the pace of work intensifies as demand rises. Even while observing the fast during Ramzan, artisans continue preparing the sacred threads and offerings that will soon make their way to temples across the country.