Brilliant hues, dragons, a garuda on a flowering tree and swastikas for luck are traditional patterns found on carpets from Himachal Pradesh. Sometimes, the weaver may capture the delicacy and colour of spring flowers on his carptes. Traditional symbols like the flute, castanets, fish a ornate knots are also woven into carpet patterns. All these symbols carry a meaning behind them - flutes signify happiness, the lotus signifies purity. Most highlanders use capets for furnishing. Even their sturdy ponies have colourful carpet saddles. 'Chuktu', a blanket, is actually a modified version of a carpet. Some of the earliest carpets were made by weaving four strips about nine inches wide and sewing them together afterwards

Woollen carpets and floor covering carry exquisite patterns and designs, and there is a hidden meaning in almost all the designs. The Swastika guiding light in darkness, the circle represents eternity, the zigzag lines - water and lightening, the meandering line - continuity of life and the tree bounty; and the semi-circular square-ups and down in the life. The whole carpets appear to be the emblem of eternity.

High on the Himalayan reaches of Himachal, the hill-folk rear sheep and goats for the famous wool and hair that goes into the making of traditional blankets, rugs and namdas. Gudma is the name given to the fleecy soft blanket that is made from the wool of Giangi sheep. Gudma weaving is mainly done in the Giabong and Kullu valleys, as these areas have special kind of clay which is used for cleaning and finishing a Gudma. The Gudma usually comes in natural wool colours finished with a warm red or black edging. Thobis (Floor coverings) and Kharcha (a mattress) are made from goat hair, while 'Pattoo' cloth, carpets and yarn are made from the soft wool sheep.

Of more recent origin is the making of namdas of floor coverings. These are made by felting the wool and then embroidering on it. This looks really attractive and gives greater wear to the namda. Some typical designs are Himachal flowers and animals.