The sarees of Bargarh

What is woven here

Bargarh weavers make Sambalpuri ikat sarees in cotton and silk. The designs are built in the tied-and-dyed thread, with simple border and body patterns. The district also produces cotton sarees for daily wear, and a lot of the dress material and cloth sold under the Sambalpuri name is woven here, not in the town of Sambalpur itself.

The craft and its people

Weavers in the Bargarh area are largely of the Bhulia community, with the work divided by household. Cooperative societies help buy thread, dye it and sell the finished cloth, and local weavers have also worked directly with designers. The sarees are an everyday item in Odisha, worn in cotton at home and in silk on special days.

Seeing it

Visit a weaving village and ask to see thread being tied for the dye. The Dhanu Jatra takes place in the month of Pausha, around December to January, and fills the town with performers and visitors. Check the dates with a local source in advance, since the festival follows the Odia calendar.

A trail idea for Bargarh

1. A weaving village near Bargarh Ask to see tying of threads and the first stage of the dye, then the setting up of a loom.
2. Barpali Visit the nearby weaving town and its shops selling cloth by the length.
3. The Dhanu Jatra grounds If travelling in winter, see the town turn into a stage for the festival play.