HIMBUNKAR (HP State Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Federation Ltd)

Chamba Rumal/Ashley Van Haeften

HIMBUNKAR is an apex institution for handlooms and handicrafts in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It was established as the Himachal Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Apex Cooperative Society Ltd with its headquarter in Kullu on 20th January 1984. It provides a state level platform to the primary handloom cooperative societies working in different regions of the state. In 2007, its name changed to the Himachal Pradesh State Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Federation Ltd signalling the inclusion of state-wide handicraft societies.

As of now, there are 292 socities registered with HIMBUNKAR. Out of which, 89 socities are completely run by rural women artisans. HIMBUNKAR help them to earn extra income in their time spare from agricultural activities, particularly during winters when most of the state area gets covered by snow. This also helps in preservation and development of age old Himachali art and culture.

Some of the HIMBUNKAR products are woodcraft, leather works, stone works, embroidery (kashida), Tibetan carpets, rumals and Chamba shawls, wooden pieces, grass shoes, Himachali caps, made-ups and embroidered women clothing.