Ivanka Trump’s Visit Puts Gollabhama Sarees In The Limelight

Ivanka Trump, the advisor to US President Donald Trump is in Hyderabad to attend the GES which was open by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Whenever a foreign dignitary visits our land, it's customary to give them a souvenir. And Ivanka too is no exception here. We already told you that the Telangana Government will present a Gollabhama saree to Ivanka Trump.

Jayesh Ranjan, state Principal Secretary, Information Technology Industry and Commerce said: "Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao presented Ivanka with traditional Gollabhama saree and specially ordered silver filigree souvenirs made by artisans of Silver Filigree of Karimnagar (SIFKA)."

Besides, the artisans also made a special Kakatiya Thoranam weighing 3 kgs and a veena whch were presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was in Hyderabad to inaugurate the Hyderabad Metro Rail and the GES. "Filigree has a 400-year-old history in Telangana and it was an honour to present our artwork to Ivanka. Around 120 families of artisans worked tirelessly to create the mementos. We made silver replicas of Charminar and a swan weighing 2.5 kg and 1.5 kg respectively, costing Rs 2-3 lakh each for Ivanka," said Erroju Ashok, President of SIFKA.

Did you know the Gollabhama Sarees have the GI tag? The once famous sarees weaved by the Golla community weavers in Chief Minister KCR's home turf Siddipet is slowly fading into oblivion. With not many takers for the saree, the number of weavers taking up this profession has also come down. Now, with Ivanka Trump's Visit the Gollabhama Saree is back in the limelight.