Nature speaks through whispers of rustling leaves or lapping waves, paints through the wildflowers in a meadow or rays of sunlight peeking over mountain ridges, and plays the symphony in the harmony of sights, sounds, and scents. Nature is full of treasure; colors are character; sounds are sublime; and views are breathtaking.
The community that did not trade their tradition for modernism:
Mirgan community: The tribes are true masters, as their processes are indigenous. The Kotpad Cottons are woven in the tribal regions of southern Odisha and Chhattisgarh by the Mirgan community. When the world moves faster, it is difficult to keep your traditions and to go against the race.
They are not trading their tradition to win against the race; it's their fight to survive and to keep their traditions alive. The handspun cotton yarns are treated with cow dung, ash, and castor oil. The most defining characteristic is color (dye), which is prepared from the roots of aal trees or Indian madder plants for shades of red like scarlet, maroon, or brown. Other natural dyes, such as harda (a dried fruit), iron sulfate, Kumar pathhar, herrakashi, or ferrous sulfate, are used to bring variation and strength to the color palette. The texture may appear rough, but the comfort is contentment and cozy. It is Odisha’s first Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged product and one of the rarest of India's weaves.
The meaning of the magnificent motifs:
Fish (sustenance of life): This ubiquitous motif represents fertility and abundance, which signifies the importance of water for sustenance.
Crab (adapt and evolve): This motif symbolizes protection and wisdom because the crab's ability to move sideways and backward is seen as a reminder to adapt and evolve.
Axe (protect with power): This motif represents strength and courage, which are associated with the deity Ghotul, who is protecting the village and its inhabitants with power and authority.
Temple (the faith of fraternity over spirituality): This motif signifies the reverence of faith over spirituality and divinity.
The stake of tradition in sustainability:
Traditions are trailblazers to confront and confirm that sustainability is not the solution; it should be a way of living. Colors from nature without chemicals and toxicity reflect that we can get comfort without costing the environment.