Khandua Pata silk sarees: Lord's Own Angabasra

Sarala: Mummyji 

Mili: Daughter 

Sarala: Hey, Milli, when is your school reopening after Puja?

Milli: Ma, why? Like every other year, after the Laxmi Puja. It feels so boring to get back on track after a week full of pandal hopping, feasting, and waves of festivities;accha nahi lagta ekdum vi. Don’t know why our schools do not drag the holidays till Diwali?

Sarala: Why not? We will ask your Principal to do it for you this time. I will tell her to make special arrangements only for my Mili, just because she hates studying and she is extremely lazy. 

Milli: Can’t you stop cracking such PJs? I have been hearing and bearing it for quite some time. 

Sarala: I know, Milli, you won’t believe me. Well, I don’t know about extending it till Diwali, but this year your chuttis are going to expand. Mark my words.

Milli (bursting in excitement): Why, what's so special this year? 

Sarala: Secret. Okay, lets give you some breaking news. This year we are visiting Puri (getting excited). 

Milli: Oh my God, my dream destination. So finally we are going. 

Sarala: Though I have been there before, I have decided to fulfil one of my dreams this time: Khandua Pata Saree. Have you heard of it before?

Milli: Nope. So what is really special about it that it became part of your dream?

Sarala: Beta, it's a sacred saree, different from all others. Khandua Pata is a handwoven silk from Nuapatna, which falls under the Cuttack district of Odisha. 

Milli: You mentioned a sacred saree. But why sacred? There are many types of sarees. But why is Khandua Pata tagged as sacred?

Sarala: Good Question. I will try to explain within my capacity. First of all, its design. These sarees feature temple borders and holy texts from Gita Govinda.

Milli: Gita Govinda. What is it?

Sarala: Beta, it's a 12th-century literature composed by poet Jaidava.The book unravels the relationship between Radhe, Krishna and the Gopis. 

Milli: Radhe-Krishna relation?

Sarala: Are pagli, aaj ka prem thori na hai: first meeting, then disagreement and then breakup. It was all pure love, those days. 

Milli: Okay, Mom, chill. Now carry on with your saree story. I am loving every bit of it. 

Sarala: This weaving art of Khandua Pata Sarees was restricted to the Meher Community. Lots of rituals went into weaving and crafting the pieces. When the crafting started, the girl child of the house wove the first thread. It was considered auspicious and a symbol of prosperity.

Milli: Mom, I listen to different discussions on YouTube and in books about women's empowerment. But in our older society, it was already embedded, isn’t it?

Sarala: Yes, my dear. When the weaving process started, it ended only after the saree was ready. By the way, have you ever heard about Jaidev, who I mentioned before?

Milli: Yes, Ma, in my history books. He wrote a masterpiece, ‘Geeta Govinda’. 

Sarala: Legends and historical manuscript that he (Kavi Jaidev) was the first to dedicate a saree to Lord Jagannath by writing the verse on the fabric. 

Milli: Ma, I am really fascinated by the history and tradition. Now, your dream is my dream, too. We will have this one (Khandua Pata) in your wardrobe. It's a must on my first Puri Trip.