Khandua Patta

Khandua is a traditional "bandha" or ikat sari which originated in Cuttack and Maniabandha in the state of Odisha; hence, it is also known as the Kataki and Maniabandhi. The word Khandua in Odia translates to the cloth worn on the lower half of the body. The weave is often adorned with religious texts, and so it is considered auspicious.

Khandua saris are traditionally red or orange in color. The red color is prepared naturally from the Sal tree. Traditional saris have exclusive motifs of an elephant with the Buddha surrounded by trailing vines and peacocks, a large flower with several petals or the mystical Orissan animal called Nabagunjara. The elephant in Khandua Ikat is exquisite and differs from the elephant motifs in other Orissan saris.

Traditionally, weaver communities of Maniabandha and Nuapatana of Cuttack crafted these saris. Exclusive saris called “Kentuli Khandua” were offered to Jagannath deity as the lower cloth. Women wear Khandua saris in the auspicious red color for their weddings.