THREADS OF TIME

A hidden treasure trove of heritage, creativity, and cultural symbolism, this Indian state's textiles are finally in the spotlight

- Pratiksha Acharya

My earliest encounters with Odisha's textile heritage are coloured by the somewhat muted tones of childhood obligation. The annual summer pilgrimages from the vibrant, bustling energy of Mumbai to the more languid pace of our ancestral roots in Odisha invariably included a visit to the closest Sambalpuri Bastralaya in town. Visiting this handloom cooperative, a steadfast institution since 1954, was a ritual for my mother, a space where she would patiently and reverently select bolts of ikat and other intricate regional weaves, destined to journey back with us to the distant metropolis. For a child more interested in the immediate joys of a vacation, these forays into the seemingly staid world of handloom felt like a detour, the complex patterns and vibrant colours yet to ignite my young imagination.

It took the slow, steady passage of years, a gradual maturing of perspective, and a conscious effort to reconnect with my roots to truly grasp the beauty, the versatile potential, and the deep cultural significance woven into these very fabrics. This personal evolution mirrored a broader, more profound realisation: A long-held, perhaps subconscious, detachment from my own heritage, a feeling of it existing somehow outside the dominant cultural narrative. This understanding has since ignited a compelling passion, a resolute desire to illuminate the often-underappreciated brilliance of Odisha's crafts and the generations of artistry that breathe life into them. For far too long, these remarkable traditions have remained somewhat veiled, their true value and aesthetic only now beginning to command the broader recognition they so richly deserve.