The Lord Jagannath Rath’s Yatra is a historic event embedded in the cultural landscape of Odisha. The tradition is so deeply rooted in the hearts of people of the state that even an unprecedented crisis such as Covid-19 could not completely suspend the annual ritual.
However, one of the lesser known aspects of this Yatra is its close and intimate association with one of the celebrated handlooms of the country. It’s the Khandua Ikat splendour from Odisha. A traditional ikat saree, Khandua is worn by women for weddings and festivities. These drapes were originally designed with the 12th-century poet Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda text all over them. Crafted by the weaver communities of Nuapatana and Maniabandha of Cuttak, these weave have a very integral connection with the Lord Jagannath Rath’s Yatra. A specific variety of Kenduli Khandua is offered to Lord Jagannath as a customary practice every year.
These days, Khandua sarees are dyed with both natural and acid dyes. Shades of red and orange are the popular colours in these weaves. The age-old ikat technique is a process of tie and dye with hues extracted from the shorea robusta tree. Motifs such as elephant, peacock, lion, swan, kalasha and flowers adorn these elegant drapes.
Did you know each Khandua saree can take up to 60 days to weave!
Enjoyed reading it. Informative and an engaging post.
Thank you, Priyanka. Am glad you liked it. Stay tuned for more.