Textiles Committee Bhubaneswar Regional Office

Odisha has been famous for exquisite handicrafts, handlooms and textiles. These popular and rich treasures of Odisha have been a part of Odisha's glorious culture, heritage, history, and maritime trade and commerce for long and have immensely contributed to the employment and livelihood of the artisans and weavers of the state. 

Out of the registered seventeen Geographical Indication (GI) products of Odisha, there are twelve handicrafts including nine handlooms. There are many more potential GI products. 

Odisha has an impressive handloom map. 

Note- All handlooms of Odisha have not been shown in the above map.

In addition, Odisha has 50 crafts recognized by the state Govt. 

Experts Of Odisha Handlooms and Handicrafts

I am deeply saddened to share that Odisha has lost key officials, who were treasure-houses and walking encyclopedias about Odisha handlooms and handicrafts-

Shri Devaraja Sahu and Shri Basanta Kumar Dash (B.K.Dash).

Both these late personalities were valuable experts, who had a wealth of knowledge about our Odisha handlooms and handicrafts.

Despite their position, expertise, and experience, they were so simple, humble, and approachable. They were a phone-call away. They listened and patiently answered. 

Handlooms Of Odisha #AToZChallenge

Odisha has an illustrious heritage of handloom-weaving. From generations, lakhs of handloom-weavers in Odisha have been weaving and producing rich works of art, upholding the exquisite tradition of the state.

Unique patterns and a mind-boggling range of colours and designs provide fascinating choices in cotton, silk and other materials. Silk and cotton are mingled and such 'Bapta' sarees are popular. Intricate designs are skillfully woven. The variety is to be seen to be believed. Many Odia weavers have won national awards for their works.

Handloom clusters are found in many places of Odisha viz. Bargarh, Barpali, Boudh, Berhampur, Nuapatna, Sonepur etc. Tussar products are woven in Fakirpur (Kendujhar), Gopalpur (Jajpur), Makidia (Balasore) and Nuapatna (Cuttack).

Odisha handlooms are loved all over the world.

Some handlooms of Odisha have earned the Geographical Indications (GI) tag namely-

Odisha India Handlooms

Spicy Saturday Post Here

I am yet to visit most parts of our world. But, wherever I have been, I am conscious that I am not in my motherland, rather I am a cultural ambassador of India there. I make it a point to wear Indian clothes and use Indian products most of the time, especially when I am abroad.

Wearing Indian handlooms attracts a lot of attention. Random strangers stop by to shower gracious compliments- "Very nice costume", "So pretty", "Lovely dress", "Love the pattern/design/print", "I want something like what you are wearing!"...

The cloth/design refers to the Ikat cloth and handlooms of Odisha that I wear most of the time. 

The bright colours and patterns and varieties of dress-materials and Sarees steal hearts.