India
oi-Oneindia Staff
The
“Bandha
Kala,” or
Ikat
weaving
tradition
of
Odisha,
serves
as
a
profound
expression
of
Odia
identity,
also
known
as
“Ashmita.”
Every
Ikat
saree
is
a
narrative
in
itself,
intricately
woven
to
reflect
the
unique
worldview
and
cultural
essence
captured
within
its
patterns.
The
“Bandha
Kala”,
often
draws
its
inspiration
from
the
unique
elements
of
Jagannath
culture,
the
timeless
sculptures
from
the
walls
of
the
Sun
Temple
at
Konark
and
inspiring
lines
from
the
works
of
eminent
Odia
poet
Gangadhar
Meher,
who
has
written
extensively
on
Nature-based
themes.
Interestingly,
Meher
also
belongs
to
the
region,
which
has
distinct
types
of
Ikat
sarees
with
their
own
creative
patterns
and
motifs.

“The
Ikat
range
thus
being
from
classical
tradition
to
architecture
and
literature.
In
preserving
the
patterns
we
will
not
only
preserve
an
age-old
traditional
art
form,
but
also
that
which
is
a
repository
of
heritage
expressed
in
a
way
different
that
architecture
or
literature.
It’s
just
like
a
poetry
weaved
through
the
meticulous
designing
by
our
traditional
weavers,”
said
Roopa
Roshan
Sahoo,
a
senior
bureaucrat
from
Odisha,
who
is
currently
continuing
her
Ph.D
work
on
understanding
the
“sociological
relevance
of
motifs
used
in
Ikat”.

Saying
about
her
observations
and
findings,
she
further
added
“while
the
process
of
weaving
has
been
much
documented
and
the
socio-economic
profile
analysed,
much
is
not
available
as
to
why
motifs
are
chosen.
The
various
factors
that
determine
the
choice
of
design
are
in
the
spatial
or
temporal
sphere.
The
weaver
ecosystem
is
a
living
tradition
of
faith
and
belief
systems
that
is
where
the
weaver
draws
the
inspiration
to
cast
a
motif
on
the
eleven-yard
wonder.”
Citing
an
example
she
mentioned
weaving
of
“Dasavatara”
(ten
incarnations
of
Lord
Vishnu)
as
a
major
motif
used
by
Ikat
weavers.
But,
why
does
a
weaver
weave
Dasavatara?
Sahoo,
currently
posted
as
the
RDC
of
Southern
Region
in
Odisha,
explains
“the
weaver
is
inspired
from
the
scriptures,
Upanishada,
epics
and
myths.
These
together
influence
the
construction
of
identity
for
the
self.
Ikat
is
an
expression
of
who
we
are
our
identity
and
cultural
roots.”
DASAVATARA
IN
IKAT:
Dasavatara
refers
to
the
ten
primary
incarnations
(avatars)
of
the
Hindu
God
Vishnu,
who
is
believed
to
descend
to
Earth
in
different
forms
to
restore
cosmic
order
and
protect
dharma
(righteousness).
Each
avatar
appears
during
a
critical
period
in
history
to
overcome
evil
and
establish
balance.
The
ten
avatars
of
Vishnu
are:
1.
Matsya
(The
Fish):
Vishnu’s
first
incarnation
as
a
fish
who
saves
the
sacred
Vedas
and
the
sage
Manu
from
a
great
deluge.
2.Kurma
(The
Tortoise):
In
this
form,
Vishnu
supports
Mount
Mandara
on
his
back
during
the
churning
of
the
ocean
to
retrieve
the
nectar
of
immortality
(amrita).
3.Varaha
(The
Boar):
Vishnu
assumes
the
form
of
a
boar
to
rescue
the
Earth
(personified
as
goddess
Bhudevi)
from
the
demon
Hiranyaksha,
who
had
submerged
it
in
the
cosmic
ocean.
4.Narasimha
(The
Man-Lion):
A
half-man,
half-lion
incarnation
who
destroys
the
demon
Hiranyakashipu,
who
was
immune
to
attacks
from
humans
or
animals,
neither
indoors
nor
outdoors,
during
day
or
night.
5.Vamana
(The
Dwarf):
In
this
form,
Vishnu
appears
as
a
dwarf
Brahmin
and
subdues
the
demon
king
Bali,
who
had
gained
control
of
the
heavens,
by
asking
for
only
three
paces
of
land
and
then
covering
the
universe
with
them.
6.Parashurama
(The
Warrior
with
an
Axe):
A
Brahmin
warrior
who
appears
to
rid
the
world
of
corrupt
Kshatriya
kings
who
were
oppressing
others.
7.Rama
(The
Prince
of
Ayodhya):
The
hero
of
the
Ramayana,
Vishnu
incarnates
as
Rama
to
defeat
the
demon
king
Ravana
and
uphold
dharma.
8.Krishna
(The
Divine
Statesman):
In
the
Mahabharata
and
Bhagavad
Gita,
Krishna
plays
a
central
role
as
a
guide
to
Arjuna,
offering
wisdom
about
life,
duty,
and
devotion,
and
also
helps
defeat
the
unrighteous
Kauravas.
9.Buddha
(The
Enlightened
One):
In
some
traditions,
Gautama
Buddha
is
considered
an
avatar
of
Vishnu,
who
incarnated
to
teach
compassion
and
non-violence
and
guide
people
away
from
ritualistic
practices.
10.
Kalki
(The
Future
Warrior):
Vishnu’s
final
incarnation,
yet
to
come,
where
he
will
appear
as
a
warrior
on
a
white
horse
to
end
the
Kali
Yuga
(the
current
age
of
darkness
and
corruption)
and
restore
righteousness.
A
keen
student
of
Sociology,
the
bureaucrat
says
a
mention
of
Indian
knowledge
systems
and
how
it
has
contributed
to
inspiring
the
age-old
tradition
of
weaving,
is
an
interesting
area
of
study
and
it
should
be
propagated
so
that
more
and
more
researchers
will
take
interest
in
these
areas.
Also
apart
from
the
traditional
research
paper
publication,
photo
or
coffee
table
books,
blogs
and
the
new-age
documentation
techniques
could
also
bring
in
a
sea-change
in
igniting
the
young
brains,
who
would
be
more
interested
exploring
ideas
to
go
deep
into
their
domain
of
research.
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