Nepal’s iconic Dhaka weaving tradition endures in a modern age

Nov 10, 2025

Palpa (Nepal), Nov 10 (ANI): Fine, soft, and colourful with a unique geometric pattern, the traditional hand-spun fabric known as Dhaka continues to hold a special place in Nepal's cultural and changing fashion landscape. Originating from the western Nepali district of Palpa, this centuries-old textile, famously called Palpali Dhaka, has retained its charm even amid changing fashion trends. Palpa is widely celebrated as the cultural heartland of this traditional textile art. Popular folklore connects the origin of the name Dhaka to the capital of present-day Bangladesh. One well-known account credits Dambar Kumari, daughter of Prime Minister Junga Bahadur Rana, who lived in Varanasi in the 19th century. She admired a fine, colourful fabric called Chamua Dhaka, woven in Dhaka, and began using it for her dresses. Her distinctive style soon set a trend among Nepal’s royal women, especially the Rana aristocracy. The textile gained fame as “Dambar Kumari Dhaka,” eventually spreading across the Kathmandu Valley, where it became popularly known simply as Dambar Kumari. About 280 km from Kathmandu, Palpa has a long tradition of hand-woven textiles made on wooden looms crafted from local pine, called Tangsing in the Magar language. Evolving from daily wear to a fashion symbol, Dhaka today is also worn at weddings.