A magenta, grey and black Nabakothi Khandua patta handloom saree in pure silk from Nuapatna, Odisha. The magenta body is woven in a Nabakothi grid of panels outlined in pale grey, each holding a white ikat motif such as a temple, flower or tree. The black pallu and border carry rows of white and grey ikat bands in zigzag, fern and geometric patterns. It suits festivals, family functions and evening gatherings.
Design details
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Body: Magenta pure silk in Nabakothi panels with pale grey grid lines and white ikat motifs of temples, flowers and trees.
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Pallu: Black, with rows of white and grey ikat bands in zigzag, fern and geometric patterns.
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Border: Black border with small white ikat motifs.
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Technique: Hand-woven Khandua ikat.
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Blouse: Comes with an unstitched blouse piece.
Occasions and styling
Khandua silk suits festivals, family functions, office events and evening gatherings. The magenta and black pairing reads bold but not loud, so it works for both day and evening. Pair it with oxidised silver or antique gold jewellery to match the white and grey motifs.
About Khandua silk
Khandua patta is a GI-tagged ikat silk from the Nuapatna and Maniabandha weaving clusters of Cuttack district, Odisha. In ikat, the yarns are resist-dyed in sections before weaving, so the pattern appears as the cloth is woven. Nabakothi, meaning nine chambers, is a classic Khandua layout in which the body is divided into a grid of boxes, each filled with a motif.
Care
Dry clean only. Store the saree wrapped in a soft cotton or muslin cloth, away from moisture. Refold it every few months so the silk and any zari do not crack along the folds. Do not spray perfume directly on silk or zari, and iron on low heat with a cloth in between.
