Himachal Ransingha, Himachal Wood Carving Craft and Himachal Handmade Galecha Receive GI Tag

Shimla, June 15: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Himachal Pradesh Regional Office (HPRO), is pleased to announce that three traditional products of Himachal Pradesh — Himachal Ransingha, Himachal Wood Carving Craft and Himachal Handmade Galecha — have been officially registered as Geographical Indication (GI) products. The recognition marks an important milestone in the protection and promotion of Himachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship and indigenous knowledge.
The GI registrations were facilitated by NABARD HPRO in collaboration with local producer groups, artisans’ collectives and other stakeholders. The initiative is aimed at protecting the unique identity of these traditional products, strengthening their market recognition and ensuring that the artisans and communities associated with them benefit from enhanced visibility and value realisation.
Himachal Ransingha is a traditional musical instrument closely linked with the cultural, religious and ceremonial life of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Wood Carving Craft represents the state’s rich artistic legacy through its intricate designs, motifs and traditional carving techniques. Himachal Handmade Galecha reflects the distinctive hand-crafted textile tradition of the state and continues to be an important source of livelihood for artisan households and weaving communities.
The GI tag is expected to help preserve these traditional skills, prevent imitation and misuse of product names, and create a stronger identity for genuine Himachali products. It will also support better branding, market access and consumer recognition, thereby improving livelihood opportunities for artisans and producer communities.
NABARD HPRO supported the GI application process through stakeholder mobilisation, documentation of traditional knowledge and production practices, coordination with concerned agencies, and facilitation of technical support required for successful registration. The recognition of these products as GI products highlights the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding local heritage and promoting rural enterprises.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vivek Pathania, Chief General Manager, NABARD Himachal Pradesh Regional Office, said that the GI registration of these three Himachali products is a significant step towards preserving the state’s cultural identity and promoting sustainable livelihoods for traditional artisans. He added that NABARD remains committed to supporting producer groups and artisan communities through value-chain development, branding, market linkage, capacity building and post-registration support.
Dr. Pathania further acknowledged the efforts of Shri Kushal Deep, Deputy General Manager, and Shri Himanshu Baliyan, Assistant Manager, NABARD HPRO, who played an instrumental role in facilitating the GI registration process. Their contribution in coordination, follow-up and stakeholder support was significant in achieving this milestone.
This achievement is expected to provide a further boost to the promotion of Himachal Pradesh’s traditional crafts and heritage products at the national level and beyond. NABARD HPRO will continue to work closely with stakeholders for post-registration interventions such as awareness generation, authorised-user registration, branding, packaging, skilling and market promotion of GI-tagged products.