Rasananda Meher Wins National Handloom Award for Sambalpuri Saree Celebrating Odisha’s GI Tags

Bhubaneswar: Renowned weaver Rasananda Meher was recently honoured with the prestigious National Handloom Award by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi. This award, instituted by the Ministry of Textiles, recognises his exceptional contribution to the handloom sector.

Rasananda Meher was specifically celebrated for his intricate work on a Sambalpuri Bandha (Ikat or tie-and-dye) saree, which features motifs representing 17 GI-tagged products of Odisha. This innovative design was conceptualised with the assistance of researcher Anita Sabat, while fellow weaver Prafulla Meher provided additional guidance.

Notably, Rasananda’s son, Biswanath Meher, had previously received the National Handloom Award in 2015 for his ‘Maa’ saree, showcasing the family’s ongoing legacy in the traditional weaving craft.