Muga Silk: The Golden Treasure of Assam

India is an arrival of differing qualities. Each state has its claim character. Some places the dialect is distinctive, some places the dress is diverse. Assam is also one of these states, whose beauty and culture are both unique. As soon as the name of Assam comes, the image of tea gardens and the Brahmaputra river first comes to the fore. But Assam is not only famous for tea. One of the most precious heritage here is Muga silk. It is called the "Brilliant Silk of Assam." Muga silk is celebrated all over the world for its brilliant sparkle and quality. This texture is not as it were the character of Assam but moreover an necessarily portion of Muga silk Assam.

What is Muga Silk?

• Muga silk is a special kind of natural silk. It is different and unique from ordinary silk.
• It is made as it were from the silkworm Antheraea assamensis, which breeds in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam.
• Its most particular include is its common brilliant color. This color never blurs indeed after washing.\
• Fabrics made of Muga silk are amazingly solid. With legitimate care, they can last for decades.
• It is exceptionally comfortable and light to wear.
• That is, Muga silk is not just cloth, but nature and beyond.
• It is a precious gift.

Read Also: Mekhela Chador: Assam’s Iconic Traditional Attire

Historical significance

• The history of Muga silk is thousands of years old. The royal families of Assam used to wear it on special occasions.
• In ancient times it was considered the garment of kings and queens.
• During the Ahom kingdom (13th to 18th century), Muga became part of the silk royal court.
• It was also used in religious ceremonies and festivals.
• Muga silk is too said in the conventions and fables of Assam. This appears that it is not fair an article of clothing but an image of Assam's culture and pride.

Features of Muga silk

There are some salient features that make Muga silk so unique and precious.

• Golden glow - The natural golden aura of Muga silk makes it unique in the world.
• Durability - This fabric is not easily damaged. The same sari can go on from generation to generation.
• 3.Wear comfortable clothes - Be it summer or winter, Muga silk is always comfortable to wear.
• Cultural identity - It is not just a cloth but a symbol of the soul and tradition of Assam silk tradition.

The process of making Muga silk

• Creating a mug is not easy. A lot of hard work and perseverance goes into it.
• First of all Muga silkworms are reared in the climate of Assam.
• These insects eat the leaves of certain kinds of trees.
• When insects make cocoons (koya), silk is extracted from these cocoons.
• After that, this silk is turned into threads.
• Weavers make beautiful clothes from these threads.
• The entire process takes several months. Therefore Muga silk is expensive and rare.

Culture of Assam and Muga Silk

• The place of Muga silk in the culture of Assam is very high.
• In the festivals here women wear Muga silk sarees.
• It is also considered special on big occasions like weddings.
• The mekhela chador, which is the traditional dress of Assam, is often made from Muga silk.
• It is said that every Assamese woman must have at least one Muga silk saree in her wardrobe. It is a symbol of both pride and tradition.

Muga Silk and World Famous

• Today Muga Silk is not limited to Assam only. It is now recognized globally.
• When foreign tourists come to Assam, they definitely buy Muga silk.
• Many international fashion designers are also now making clothes from Muga silk.
• It has also received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• That is, this silk has now become the identity of not only Assam but the whole of India.

Today's Challenges

• Although the popularity of Muga silk is great, it also has some challenges in front of it.
• Due to climate change, rearing silkworms is becoming difficult.
• Due to the expanding request for present day dress, individuals are getting more pulled in towards manufactured clothes.
• Muga silk is costly, so not everybody is able to purchase it.
• The government and neighborhood weavers are working together to address these challenges.

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Government and Industry Initiatives

• Both the Government of Assam and the Central Government are taking several steps to promote Muga Silk.
• Weavers are being given financial assistance and training.
• Fairs and exhibitions are held to promote Muga silk.
• Its sale is being encouraged on online platforms.
• The aim of these efforts is to keep the tradition of Muga silk alive from generation to generation.

Muga silk in modern fashion

• In today's time, Muga silk is not limited to only sarees.
• Designers are also making gowns, dupattas and shawls from it.
• Kurtas and jackets for men are also crafted from Muga silk.
• It has become a centre of attraction during weddings and festivals.
• In this way Muga silk is a beautiful combination of tradition and golden silk fabric.

Conclusion

Muga silk is not just a fabric. It is a golden symbol of Assam's soul, tradition and culture. Its peculiarity is that it becomes brighter with time. The people of Assam wear it with pride and hand it over to the future generations. That is why it is rightly called the "Golden Treasure of Assam." Preserve this heritage. Muga silk is not only the identity of India but it is a part of our heritage. It is the responsibility of every Indian to protect it.