Baglung Women Turn Traditional Dhaka Weaving Into a Steady Income Stream

Women in Baglung’s Tamankhola Rural Municipality are building a stronger financial future by turning traditional Dhaka weaving into a local source of income and pride. In Taman village, Jamuna Gharti and 15 other women are working from the Mahila Kalyan Aama Samuha building, producing Dhaka textiles that are helping them become more self-reliant.

The group’s work is more than a cultural preservation effort. It is also becoming a practical business, with some members reportedly earning up to Rs 50,000 per month from the craft. The initiative has given women in the area a way to generate income close to home while keeping a distinctive Nepali textile tradition alive.

A local craft with real earning power

According to reports, the women’s Dhaka production group began as a small community effort and now includes 15 women associated with the industry. The project was originally established by the local Kalyan Mothers' Group and has since grown into an income source that has produced goods worth hundreds of thousands of rupees.

This matters because rural employment opportunities are often limited, especially for women. By making Dhaka products locally, the group is creating jobs that fit into village life and reduce the need to migrate for work.

Support from the municipality

The local government has played an active role in supporting the initiative. Officials have provided training and helped with the purchase of finished products, giving the women a more stable path to market access.

That kind of backing is important for small craft businesses, where production skills alone are not enough. Access to training, equipment, and buyers can determine whether a homegrown enterprise survives or fades.

Why this story stands out

Dhaka is more than fabric in Nepal - it is a cultural identity as well as an economic product. In Tamankhola, women are proving that traditional skills can still generate modern income when paired with organization and local support.

The story also highlights a broader shift in rural entrepreneurship. Instead of waiting for outside investment, the women are building value from a craft rooted in their own community. That makes the project both economically meaningful and socially empowering.

What comes next

The challenge now is sustaining demand and expanding market reach so the income remains steady. If the group can continue producing quality Dhaka textiles and secure reliable buyers, it could become a model for other rural communities looking to turn traditional skills into long-term livelihoods.