ABOUT
Yeola Paithani History
Yeola’s establishment is related with Raghuji Naik history of handloom in Yeola was also started by Raghuji Naik. From1667 Yeola got importance because Raghuji Naik with the help of one Gujarathi brought paithani weaver from Paithan and settled a market of paithani.
Yeola was established by Raghuji baba Patil in that day, it was under the control of Delhi Moghal Emperor later on it was ruled by peshwas and Chhatrapati. Elder Madhavrao Peshve gave Yeola Vitthal Shivdev Vinchurkar (wani) as a gift. In 1892 British captured Yeola. Yeola is a taluka place in which villages consist of.
The Tradition of Paithani
The name of “paithani” by which is known today is probably very recent. It was the only centre where this complex technique of weaving was kept alive during the colonial period, when other centres in Deccan ceased to weave sarees because of lack of patronage. Paithani possibly serviced because of the patronage of the household of the Nizam of Hydrabad, who kept the art alive by opening a centre for weaving sarees, turbans, shalus and patkas sashes for the use of the court. In fact the most important single item being woven during the beginning of the courtiers and officials of the court. Paithan though had a distinction the quality of gold thread it produced was the finest the old master craftsmen talk of how the closely woven gold thread shown like a mirror. It is the quality of paithani weavers. The pogrees, turbans woven for the court also hand woven paithani weavers at the end and these were meant for the Nizam’s family and courtiers of placed courtiers.
The weavers of Paithan were later encouraged by a for sighted superintendent of archaeology pasted at Ajanta to copy some of the flowing lotus and leaf patterns from the ceiling of the cares visitors to the Ajanta caves were the new patrons who paid the price for these elaborately woven panels which were sold as scrolls. They also wove borders and pallus, which suited the changing tastes of Aristocratic women of area, who had taken to wear georgette and chiffon sarees rather than the rich, traditional, regional weavers.
When India become independent in 1947 and the programme for the revival of traditional crafts was initiated by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay in 1958, the only centre weaving this technique was Paithan and the technique became identified with this place the weavers were commissioned to weave some traditional silk sarees with a gold patti malt border and paithani pallu. More intricate patterns were however revived by the All India Handicrafts Board at their centre in Kothokotta Abdhra Pradesh. The Government of Maharashtra them revived the technique at Yeola.