Saree of Orissa

The saree of Orissa is much in demand throughout the entire world. The different colors and varieties of sarees in Orissa make them very popular among the women of the state.

The handloom sarees available in Orissa can be of four major types; these are Ikat, Bandha, Bomkai and Pasapalli.

The traditional saree of Orissa has an intimate connection with Jagannath, one of the major deities of the place. The four main colors used in the sarees at Orissa are white, black, yellow and red, which are also the colors associated with Jagannath. The motifs used on Orissa saree like lotus, temple border, wheel and conch are also related to Jagannath.

Orissa sarees are also available in other colors like cream, maroon, brown and rust. The tie-and-dye technique used by the weavers of Orissa to create motifs on these sarees is unique to this region. This technique also gives the sarees of Orissa an identity of their own.

The art of saree making is as old as the 15th century. Special mention of the beautiful sarees of Orissa is found in the poems written by Upendra Bhanja and Sarala Das. Upendra Bhanja's poem 'Labanyabati' has a description of the saree worn by Labanyabati as a very light and soft material.

The traditional sarees belonging to Orissa have been greatly modified to meet the changing tastes and demands of the customers.

On a travel to Orissa, the tourists should not forget to buy a traditional saree of Orissa as a memento of the rich traditional art and crafts of Orissa.