Orissa Ikat dates back to the 12th century when artisans from the Patan region of modern day Gujarat migrated to Orissa and carried forward the craft. Now, these distinctive hand-woven textiles support a thriving cottage industry employing thousands of people. Whereas the weavers in the Sambalpur (double-ikat) cluster belong to the Meher community, the ones in the Nuapatna (single-ikat) belong to the Patra community. Their kids begin to learn the craft from a very early age, seeing their parents practicing it as a part of their daily life.
