Khordha: For the weaver families of Routapada village in Odisha’s Khordha district, weaving is much more than a livelihood—it is a sacred service to Lord Jagannath that has been passed down through generations.
More than 20 families in the village spend the entire year weaving traditional garments, or angavastra, for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. As preparations for the annual Rath Yatra gather pace, the rhythmic clatter of handlooms echoes through the village, where every household is engrossed in completing the deities’ ceremonial attire.
Following directions from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the weavers begin work on the Rath Yatra garments soon after Ram Navami. The first batch of clothes is supplied before Snana Purnima, while the remaining consignments are delivered ahead of the annual chariot festival.
About 35 years back Gopinath Das and his family became the first from Routapada to receive permission from the SJTA to weave garments for the deities. As the temple’s requirements increased over the years, more weaving families from the village joined the service. Today, over 20 households collectively produce the sacred attire required for various rituals and festivals throughout the year.
With the Rath Yatra approaching, the entire village turns into a hive of activity. Men and women work long hours at their looms, while younger family members assist in preparing the garments. Among the most inspiring sights is 92-year-old woman Aseli, who continues to contribute to the work despite her advanced age, reflecting the deep devotion with which the families regard their service to the Lord.
The garments woven in Routapada include several traditional varieties such as 12-hati Gada, 16-hati Gada, Boirani, Patani, Netafuta, Netakhandua, Gadipeta, Malmal, Shreemukha Hota, Tana Thesa, Nali Cheheli and Sabuja Cheheli, among others. Each serves a specific ritualistic purpose in the temple’s elaborate daily and festival traditions.
The deities are adorned in different attire every day of the week, with seven distinct silk garments used across the seven days. Among the most revered is the Gitagovinda Pata, inscribed with verses from Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda, which is offered to Lord Jagannath during the daily Badasinghara Besha, the final adornment of the day.
For the artisans, the opportunity to weave for Lord Jagannath is regarded as a blessing rather than merely an occupation. They describe themselves as being immersed in the Lord’s service and say remuneration has never been their primary concern. However, they believe improved financial support from the temple administration would help sustain the traditional craft and benefit the weaving community.
“We supply clothes for Mahaprabhu throughout the year, including for all festivals and the Rath Yatra, as per the directions of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration. Some garments were delivered before Snana Purnima. Around 90 per cent of this year’s requirement has already been supplied and the remaining will be delivered soon. We are ‘Pataras’, and weaving for Mahaprabhu is our ancestral occupation. This year, we have also inducted three young members of our community, who are still studying, into this sacred service,” said Gopinath Das.
As handlooms continue to run in the village, the people of Routapada take pride in preserving a centuries-old weaving tradition that remains closely intertwined with the rituals of Lord Jagannath. For them, every thread woven is an offering of faith, ensuring that one of Odisha’s most cherished spiritual traditions continues unbroken from one generation to the next.
