Saree is the traditional outfit of Indian women. This outfit is probably the oldest attire ever invented in India and to date proclaims to be the most beautiful yet comfortable; most enchanting yet well-ordered outfit.
Here’s some of the different sarees from Odisha which can never go out of fashion!
1. Bomkai Saree/Sonepuri Saree From Ganjam
Bomkai cotton sarees are mostly accepted for habitual wear and the silk saree is put on ceremonies and sacred occasions. The ancient belief is depicted in its border. Mostly the design of fish is seen in the saree as it is believed to be a sign of success and affluence. The most charming part is its thread work in the designs of the border and the palloo. The appearance of the saree is related to simplicity and has a tribal tinge in it. The saree is normally dyed to attain the red, black and white background colours. However, today you will find the saree in several designs and multiple colours while retaining their originality. The warps are suitably woven to produce multi-coloured end piece.
2. Ikat Saree/Bandha Saree From Sonepur
It is made through a process of tie-dying the warp and weft threads to create the design on the loom prior to weaving. It is unlike any other Ikat woven in the rest of the country because of its design process, which has been called “poetry on the loom”.
The designs developed on the Ikat sarees are generally of birds, various animals, rudraksh beads, geometric designs, dice, temple towers, and pinnacles. The silk fabric made at Nuapatna in the Cuttack district is woven with Ikat yarn as hymns from the Gitagovinda, and this fabric adorns the idols at the Jagannath Temple daily. The Ikat produced by Bhullas from Western Odisha is considered superior in both the use of the fabric and pattern (which include double Ikat) compared to the product from Eastern Odisha. In the Western Odisha, it is woven in Barapalli, Remunda, Jhiliminda, Mahalakata, Singhapali, Sonepur, Patabhadi,Sagarpali, Tarabha, Biramaharajpur, Subalaya, Kendupali, Jaganathpali, and Kamalapur of Bargarh district and Sonepur district. In the Cuttack district it is made in the villages of Badamba, Nuapatna, Maniabadha, Narashinpur, Tigiria.
3. Kotpad Saree From Koraput
These are cotton sarees with solid borders and are dyed organically that renders a kind of richness to the cloth. While the process of making them is quite time consuming, the final product is hard to ignore. Having pleasant shades and being eco-friendly are two other reasons for owning this saree at the earliest!
4. Dhalapathar Saree From Dhalapathar
Dhalapathar sarees are woven in the Dhalapathar in Khurda district of Orissa. These are woven by Rangani community in the village. These are also known as Kusumi Kapta, Kankana Pedi, Muktapunji, Nahati and Akata.The speciality of the practice is wet ribbed cloth that is woven without the use of dobby, jacquard or jaala.
5. Saptapar Saree/Pasappali Saree From Bargarh
These sarees have intricate check patterns of contrast colours resembling the chess boards which gives it such name. This Saree is woven at Sonepur, Barpali and Baunsri of Western Odisha. The speciality of the Pasapalli or Saptapar Saree is the designs like Chess Board’s boxes on the Body or Border. Normally this saree is woven with Silk thread, Cotton thread, Tussar, Mix of Silk & Tussar. Pallu of Some Pasapalli or Saptapar Saree is made with golden colour threads. The Border of the Sarees is made beautifully.
6. Khandua Saree From Nuapatna
Manufactured in Nuapatna in Cuttack district, has rightly been called the Pride of Odisha. The origin of this Saree, which is dedicated to Lord Jagannath of Puri Dham, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, dates back to 12th century. Khandua Saree is a classic example of hand weaving, in which traditional wooden looms are used to weave these exquisite and artistic pieces, out of pure Cotton yarn. Another excellent feature of Khandua Saree is its light weight; barely 300 g. Khandua Saree has become a symbol of the unique blend of tradition and modernity, which makes it perfect for the modern age.
7. Habaspuri From Kalahandi
Habaspuri handloom is named after the village of Habaspur in Kalahandi district.
The Habaspuri sarees are finely hand-woven in Chicheguda village of Odisha. The painstaking efforts and creativity of Chicheguda weavers make every Habaspuri saree produced here a special piece. Traditional designs of Kandha tribes like Kumbha (temple), fish and flowers are woven into the sarees. Chicheguda village has been instrumental in reviving the Habaspuri handloom which was originally woven in Habaspur village of Kalahandi district during the 19th century. With the decline of dynasty rule, the pattern of weave too passed into oblivion. However, it was revived by master weaver Ugrasen Meher in Chicheguda. Now there are very few weavers left in that village.
