Chitrarekha Debota and Suryakanti Singh carry the traditional art of weaving in their fingertips and in their hearts. Belonging to Muktanagar, a quiet hamlet in Cuttack, life here moves to the rhythm of tradition. Here, more than 700 families have spun and woven side by side for generations, (the village even has some Buddhist settlers) their hands and lives gently entwined.
According to Suryakanti, it was Badamba Raja who first brought this community of weavers together, naming the village after his beloved wife, Muktadevi. As I spent time alongside Chitrarekha and Suryakanti, it was clear their passion for their craft runs deep and what’s rare, is that their children carry the same love.
I asked with curiosity what their secret was, as many handicrafts are dying because the next generation isn’t interested in carrying forward the tradition. The ladies smiled and told me ” From a young age, children are invited to join; the art of weaving is part of play as much as work.” After school, their laughter fills the loom room as they help tie threads or rubber bands on the wooden frame, mimicking the careful motions of their elders. It’s all fun and games, but unknowingly with every knot, they begin to decipher the hidden patterns and calculations beneath each beautiful motif. The process itself is almost meditative. Threads are bound, dyed, unbound, then bound again, over and over, each stage revealing new colors and shapes. This process is known as tie-resist-dyeing and requires skill and precision. The children, given the important job of tying and snipping threads and eventually, the process becomes second nature to them.
Talking with them about their designs I realised these motifs were living emblems, carrying ancestral wisdom and deep-rooted meanings that have been meticulously passed from generation to generation through the revered tradition of pata saree weaving. Every new saree is an example of this ongoing preservation, as these artisans, knowingly or not, anchor and advance our heritage.
Today, thanks to the steady support of Mission Shakti, through workshops, market linkage, and help to set up stalls at fairs, these ladies have become more confident of their work. They are experimenting with new patterns, different clothing like salwar suits, dupattas, and even shirts. With a shared workspace, they work cheerfully side by side, ideating and helping each other.
There remain countless extraordinary stories interwoven in tradition, and through future journeys and blogs, we aim to carry the authentic voices that keep the spirit and legacy of their village alive.We are grateful to the Mission Shakti team Namita Palo, Tapan babu, Chittaranjan babu, and weavers like Lisalin Tosh spending time with us and opening their homes to us.
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