MY KOLKATA EDUGRAPH
ADVERTISEMENT
Regular-article-logo Thursday, 03 July 2025

Check out of airport with ikkat saris - Boyanika store big boost for traditional handloom and weavers of Bargarh

Read more below

OUR CORRESPONDENT Published 29.07.13, 12:00 AM

Bhubaneswar, July 28: The next time you are at the city airport, don’t forget to sample the ikkat saris (made with tie and dye technique) and dress material at the brand new Boyanika showroom there.

The handlooms, textiles and handicrafts department of the Odisha government is planning to open more Boyanika counters at airports in other parts of the country as well to make its presence felt. Odisha State Handloom Weavers’ Co-operative Society (Boyanika) is marketing them.

“We already have counters in cities such as Ahmedabad, Calcutta and New Delhi apart from Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar, but now we are planning to open counters at Calcutta and New Delhi airports. We are also planning to move southwards and Chennai airport will be on our list,” said Aparajita Sarangi, secretary of the department.

Sarangi said: “At the airports, space always comes at a premium as we are depositing Rs 50,000 each for the two kiosks at the city airport. But they will help us get better exposure and brand image.’’

Handlooms, textiles and handicrafts minister Sarojini Hembram inaugurated the Boyanika and Utkalika showrooms at the Biju Patnaik Airport last evening. One can also order customised saris with specific designs and colours at the store. Ikkat saris from Bargarh district are much sought after.

The showcasing products at Boyanika have given a boost to the weavers of Bargarh district.

“Marketing of the Boyanika products has increased with the number of looms now nearly 13,000. Besides silk, cotton and tussar products we are also helping low-skilled weaving families to market their products such as lungi, gamchha and handkerchiefs,’’ said Debjit Nandy, assistant director of textiles at Bargarh Handloom Cluster.

Surendra Meher, a successful master weaver from Barpali said: “Our town is the heart of Sambalpuri ikkat. The marketing strategies of Boyanika have helped in creating a greater market share for the products. However, the selection criteria for the weavers should be more liberal. More and more weavers should be included in the cooperative web.’’

“To help skilled, semi-skilled and even people from communities other than the weavers the Odisha government is planning to have a handloom park in Bargarh for which the detailed-project report is under preparation. The park will be a mega facility where under the same roof 2,000 weavers can work at a time. This will help many traditional weaving families which are going outside state to earn,’’ Nandy said.

Boyanika is now showcasing saris and fabrics from ikkat, Kotpad (by a tribal community from Koraput), Bomkai (with jala technique), tussar and eri silk. Utkalika showroom, which was opened on the first floor (security zone) of the city airport, will deal with 50 handicraft items.

With 13 outlets in Odisha and outside, it is providing marketing support to artisans of the state for past 55 years.

Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT