Treasured Holidays

07/08/2026

Greetings on National Handloom Day!

Handwoven textiles are a way of life at Treasured Holidays. We celebrate them throughout the year. Today, we thought of paying tribute to the weavers of the humble and our favourite, Assamese Gamosa.

Some traditions go beyond conservation in museums; they are lived every day! Gamosa is one such tradition in Assamese culture. Gamosa symbolizes the vibrant land, the people, living weaving tradition, valued textile and much more!

The word gamosa comes from two Assamese words, ‘ga’ meaning body and ‘musa’ meaning to wipe. While it functions practically as a towel, scholars also trace its roots to the older Kamrupi word gamsaw, which describes the sacred cloth used to cover holy sacred scripture like the Bhagavata Purana.

The unique Assamese Gamosa is woven with precision, in white background having red colour borders on three sides and the fourth side has floral design. For generations this has remained the same, with very little changes. It is woven mostly in cotton and in Mulberry, Tussar and Muga silks for special occasions.

As per Fourth All India Handloom Census of 2019-20, the single state of Assam accounts for the bulk production of Gamosa and offers livelihood opportunities to many families. Assamese Gamosa received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in December 2022.

The simple yet elegant red patterns on Gamosa represent nature (flora, fauna), wildlife (Elephants, Rhinoceroses, ducks, birds), geometric patterns (diamonds, rhombus grids) and cultural symbols (Bihu dancers, musical instruments, Japi).

The diverse Assamese culture has 19 different types of Gamosa like Ukka, Tioni, Pani, Talos, Anakota, Tamul, Pakharutang, Phulam, Dara baranar, Bihuwan, Gosai, Tangali, Rajbansi, Maran, Motok, Baro, Mising, Rabha and Tiwa. The Gamosa is used by all irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds.

This rectangular piece of cloth is shining brightly in the domestic as well as global fashion industry. The handwoven Gamosa faces competition with machine made Gamosa for obvious reasons of affordability.

In Assam, when the weaver throws the shuttle across the loom, s/he isn’t just locking threads together; s/he locks the communities together, from the farmer in the paddy field to the leader on stage. Gamosa makes everyone equal!

Assamese Gamosa is more than a textile, it represents dignity, love, respect and pride!

29/07/2026

Block printing has a rhythm. The simple designs on fabric elegantly create a melody. Tempted to say, we learn ‘ABC’ of block printing and enjoy it like Do-re-mi!

Listen to the music created by blocks during our workshop in Bagru and to our group members. We will be repeating this experience from 3-9 September in Jaipur, Bagru and Sanganer. Call / message us today for more information.

22/07/2026

* Announcement *
The Splendid Paithani Trail of 22 & 23 August is completely sold out. We are delighted to repeat the experience on 29 & 30 August as many of you are interested in traveling on this trail in Yeola and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.

Join us on our meticulously curated signature trail to find out more about Paithani, the traditional and most celebrated textile art form of Maharashtra.

Festivities and celebrations are just round the corner. So, say ‘Yes’ to the treasured holiday and book your spot today. For registration and further details, please contact us.

15/07/2026

कालनिर्णयचं मागचं पान कथा, माहिती आणि प्रेरणा काय, कसे आणि का सविस्तर सांगतं. हे मागचं पान आपला वारसा आहे. Treasured Holidays च्या trails सुद्धा वारसा जपतात किंवा Back to roots आहेत. आमच्या प्रवासा विषयी बोलायला मला कालनिर्णय कडून पॉड कास्ट साठी बोलावण आलं. वारसा हा एक धागा धरून आम्ही भारतातले कारागीर, त्यांनी जपलेल्या कला, सांस्कृतिक वारसा, येणारे पर्यटक आणि आलेले अनुभव या विषयी गप्पा मारल्या. तुम्हाला ह्या गप्पा ऐकायची लिंक देते आहे. जरूर ऐकाल आणि कश्या वाटल्या ह्या गप्पा हे देखील सांगाल: https://youtube.com/watch?v=vgldKElS4hE&si=VYh5lEBDmUsNetdy

वीणा गोखले (Veena Gokhale ), तुझ्या मुळे मला ही संधी मिळाली. Thanks a lot!

ताक: ह्या पॉडकास्ट साठी मी सुद्धा तयारी करून गेले होते. इथे उदाहरणे, संदर्भ नवीन असतील हे अगदी कटाक्षाने पाळले आहे.

Happy watching!

प्रवास म्हणजे फक्त पर्यटन नाही, तर माणसं, कला आणि संस्कृती अनुभवण्य...

01/07/2026

I’m dying to do dyeing! 💙🩵💙

Our Amazing Block Printing Holiday is unique. We learn block printing from artisans in their studio and colour our hands with Indigo dye. We explore the entire ecosystem where printing and dyeing is carried out. And yes, bring home a pair of block-printed stoles made during the workshop.

Join us in Jaipur, Bagru and Sanganer from 3-9 September for a fun filled holiday. Call / message us today for more information.

Please go full screen to watch the reel.

25/06/2026

We are delighted to announce the most fun-filled trail of Treasured Holidays.

Learn block printing techniques, travel around Jaipur city, visit fascinating textile museum and discover Rajasthani cultural treasures during our travel. The highlight of this curated trail is a special opportunity to learn block printing from artisans in their studio and colour our hands with natural dyes. And yes, bring home a pair of block printed stoles made during the workshops.

Let’s go offline to disconnect from the virtual world and travel with like-minded strangers with an eye for crafts and textiles!

The trail is planned in Jaipur, Bagru and Sanganer from 3-9 September 2026. Out of your busy schedule, press a ‘pause’ button to travel with us!

Call / message us today for more information.

18/06/2026

Calling ‘Paithani Lovers’ on our signature ‘Splendid Paithani Trail’ on 22nd and 23rd August in Yeola and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.

Paithani is the traditional and most celebrated textile art form of Maharashtra. Paithani sarees are known for their unusual weaving, beautiful motifs and dazzling colours.

We have been planning interaction with the competent weavers of Paithani since 2017 in the interiors of Maharashtra to witness how these gorgeous sarees are woven and how much time and efforts are called for dainty handwork. In the last few years, many textile enthusiasts and curious travelers were on the road less travelled to get that glamourous Paithani!

Festivities and celebrations are just round the corner. So, say ‘Yes’ to the treasured holiday and book your spot today. For registration and further details, please contact us.

23/04/2026

पुस्तक सुंदरी (Book Fairy) wishes you a Happy World Book Day!

World Book Day is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and most importantly reading chosen by UNESCO and marked in 100+ countries all over the world.

Though the taste of readers is changing and audio-visual, on-line resources are mostly preferred by all the age groups, the touch and feel while leafing through a physical book is incomparable! All of us have that favorite book corner at home. May we get more time to curl-up with much-loved books!

Hope more books get published in the field of textiles and crafts. It will certainly lead to much required documentation of living cultural heritage across the globe.

10/03/2026

Balijori Haat in the state of Odisha is the largest open market in Asia organised for the artisans and farmers. This weekly market is scheduled every Wednesday on Behera Bazaar Prangana in the interiors of Bargarh district of Western Odisha.

Bargarh is known as the ‘Rice bowl of Odisha’. We crossed kilometres of rice cultivation to reach Balijori Haat and experienced why this area is called ‘धान का कटोरा’.

Bargarh has a maximum concentration of artisans. It is the leading hub of ‘Ikat’ weaving where maximum award-winning weavers have been creating delightful textiles. Ikat is a textile art form that uses tie and dye technique to create designs on finished products.

The space of the Balijori haat is managed by the weaver’s collective where participants pay a small token fee approximately INR 10 to secure a spot on a first-come-first-served basis.

This market opens even before dawn and gets over in the morning where Ikat fabrics, sarees, dupattas, gamchas (Towels), rumals, stitched shirts and tops are sold out. More than 2500 artisans participate in the haat to sell directly to the traders and customers. We loved this place as ‘No Commission’ is paid to the middlemen.

Weavers sell plain, coloured as well as tied and dyed (Ikat) yarn. It is said that in a few hours business of several crores takes place here. This market also promotes accessories required in weaving. The carpenters sell the wooden frames, dobby, shuttles, bobbins, etc.

The parking lot gets flooded with cars, auto rickshaws, tempos, buses and heavy trucks. Two-wheeler and cycle parking is spread out on a community ground. Beverage stalls brew tea and coffee. Piping hot Puri-Sabji, Samosa chaat and snacks attract customers early in the morning.

Hands that create beautiful textiles put their stalls here. Retailers from other parts of Odisha visit this market for bulk shopping. In the age of online shopping and air-conditioned malls, such place is an ideal example of living local tradition.

It’s a wonderful experience to walk around and interact with buyers and sellers of brilliant Ikat textiles and while walking frankly ये दिल इक्कत इक्कत हो गया!

14/01/2026

Pyrostegia venusta aka Sankrant Wel says, तिळगूळ घ्या, गोड गोड बोला! The vine blooms around Sankrant Festival hence the name Sankrant Wel.

Hope you are celebrating Khichdi, Lohri, Magh Bihu, Magha Saaji, Maghi, Makar Sankramana, Makar Sankrat, Makar Vilakku, Pedda Panduga, Pongal, Poush Sankranti, Sakraat, Shishur Saenkraat, Suggi Habba, Tila Sankranti, Uttarayan and Uttarayani Ghunghutiya.

Happy Harvest Festival, everyone; Hope life offers you more sweetness!