Orissa is a beautiful state, well irrigated by rivers, its landscape rising up from the temple towns of the coast throught the Eastern Ghats with their thick forests, to the Deccan plateau. Across the verdant paddy fields and sloping hills of its villages, one can hear a rhythmic sound. This is the sound of the shuttle, as it ceaselessly carries the weft across the warp, producing reams of intricate cloth from the humble wooden frame of the loom. Amongst the yarn and the loom sits the master of the loom, the weaver, capable of combining the two as only he knows how. Orissa has a rich tradition in handloms and it’s products, especially "Ikat" or tie and dye fabrics, known as "bandhas" in Orissa are recongnised all over the country and abroad for their highly artistic designs, colour combinations and durability. The art of weaving in the state is highly evolved and its fabrics bear testimony to the unique and artistic ability and tradition of the weavers of this state.

Traditionally the women of Orissa dress in sarees of blue, red and magenta and other deep colours, with ikat (known as bandha in Orissa) patterning. These beautiful and eye catching saris are made within the state, mainly at Nuapatna, near Cuttack on the coastal plain, or in the weaving centres inland around Sambalpur, Bargarh and Sonepur and Boudh districts. Of late, however, there has been a diversification in designs and products and new centres of production have gained popularity and the acceptance of the consumer. Notable amongst these are "Bomkai" and "Habaspuri" sarees and also cotton sarees produced in Berhampur and Jagatsingpur Districts.