EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Webinar on Maharshtra Weaves and Odisha Textiles Showcases How Handlooms Thread the Nation Together

New Delhi: Indian weaves have always helped to weave the rich heritage of people and handlooms in the country. The incredible journey of handlooms and weavers was shared in a webinar on Weaves of Maharashtra and Textiles of Odisha organized by Press Information Bureau, Mumbai and India Tourism, Mumbai today.

The webinar focused on different handlooms and fabrics belonging to Maharashtra and Odisha. Both these states are also ‘paired states’ under ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ Mission.
Initially, Regionàl Director, Tourism D. Venkatesan, briefed about concept of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and narrated initiatives undertaken through this programme. Further, stated that, the webinar intends to help to know about centuries old traditions of handlooms and fabric making in the states of Maharashtra and Odisha.

Speaking about the Textiles of Odisha, Regional Level Guide, Eastern Region, Tapan Kumar Mishra gave a virtual trip of the handloom map of the state. His presentation threw light on the nuances and techniques involved in weaving each handloom saree/textile. He shared photographs of hand-woven fabric of every district and region of Odisha namely Nuapatna, Berhampur, Dhenkanal, Kordha, Koraput and more.

‘Kotpada saree of Koraput district in Odisha is made in a typical way. It is made from the outer covering of Arjun tree and later treated in cow dung’, he said. He also spoke about how different tribes of the state excel in making hand-woven fabric that requires immense patience and creativity. ‘The fierce Dongria tribe of Odisha has soft hands in making Handloom craft’ he added.

Chitra Acharya, Regional Level Guide, Western Region spoke about 13 different weaves of Maharashtra that stands popular even till date. She proudly said that the state’s Ghongadi fabric has medicinal qualities that can cure many ailments including back pain.

She also spoke about ‘Satranji’ a fabric that reached Maharashtra from the southern part of India -a colourful piece which has all colours of the rainbow. ‘The interlocking pattern of the fabric makes it very strong that it never gets damaged. A Satranji can last for more than 100 years’, she said while explaining the specific way it is woven.

She also spoke about different varieties of sarees and fabrics celebrated by every Maharashtrian – Narayanpeth saree, Nagpuri saree, Himroo, Solapur Chaadar, Munga Sarees, Khann sarees, Karvat Kathi, Tassar Silk and Paithani.
‘Paithani is not a cloth, it is a feeling. It is called so because it originally came from Paithan near Aurangabad. It is every woman’s dream to have a Paithani. It is called the Mahavastra’, she said.

The webinar was an initiative to weave the thread of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and also honour the handloom weavers and also the handloom industry of these states. ‘India stands for Unity in diversity. Even with its diverse landscapes, people, languages, ethnic backgrounds the nation stands united in many ways,’ Director General, West Zone, Information & Broadcasting, Manish Desai emphasised the dimensions of the sentiment of unity.