Bandhakala (also known as Baandha) is a complex tied-dyed weave art which originated in Odisha, India. Popularly in Odisha, the Bandhakala sari is known as Vichitrapuri or Bichitrapuri sari.
The beauty lies in the main body of the sari which is an interwoven weft of the gold and silk threads creating a rich fabric. The weavers create basic geometric patterns that look amazing. The borders are painted with the various geometric patterns creating popular shankha (conch shell) and chakra (wheel) designs.
The Ikat dyeing technique involved in making the Vichitrapuri sari is the same as that of the Sambhalpuri sari. The Vichitrapuri variety mostly comes with a fish border. This sari generally comes in 6 to 8 colors. The body of this sari is woven in the Pasapalli style (a style of sari from Odisha) giving the fabric an eternally rich look.
Inspired by the game of dice during the time of the Mahabharata, Vichitrapuri saris are hand-woven in silk threads and have replicas of a chess board arranged in geometric patterns. Made from an exclusive handloom fabric called “pata”, Vichitrapuri saris are an essential part of a wedding trousseau in Odisha.