THE PLACE
Manibandh is in Baramba Block in Athagarh sub-division of Cuttack district of Orissa in India is just 25 kms from Athagarh and about 110 km from the state Capital,Bhubaneswar.
THE PEOPLE
Since time immemorial handloom products are being made by members of Buddhist community who are said to have migrated from Bardhaman district of West Bengal in seventh century A.D. They were rehabilitated in Maniabandha by the then king of Barambagarh who allowed them to earn their livelihood through weaving. With passing of time they excelled in weaving with active patronage of the king. The people have been weaving varieties of cloth items for centuries to cater to local needs.While practice of Buddhism has waned over the years from India, in Maniabandha one can come across it as a way of life. This has started attracting Buddhist pilgrims and tourists to visit the village to experience. Legend has it that when the famous Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited the village in 7th century AD, he was moved to receive a gift of saree that could be cased in a thin bamboo stick. The excellent designs and texture of the Maniabandha silk sarees that has got a global market today speaks volumes of the centuries old textiles legacy of the place. The village is also known for its excellent religious harmony between the Buddhists and the Hindus. Both the communities love to involve themselves in the socio-religious celebrations in such a manner that it becomes difficult to distinguish a Buddhist from a Hindu here. Maniabandha has housed five Buddhist temples which are built in the Kalinga style of temple architecture. Interestingly, Hindu deities also find a place in these shrines symbolising the religious tolerance of both the communities.
THE PRODUCT
A visit to the Dalai Lama Weavers' Cooperative Society and Maniabandha Weavers' Cooperative Society would familiarise a visitor with the wonderful weaving wizardry of the villagers here, says Beena Keum, a Korean traveller.Main handloom products of the cluster include both cotton and sil varieties.While the cotton varieties are made from 2/80s to 2/120s count yarn the silk varieties are of 20/22 denie, the main products of the cluster are sarees,lungis,dess materials,naplins,stoles and dupattas. Recently designers have been engaged for catering to the needs of a classical mixture of traditional and modern designs.