Maniabandha, a village celebrated for its unique silk sarees and eco-friendly silk weaving techniques, has been recognized as one of the best tourism villages in the ‘crafts’ category this year. The accolade was announced by the Ministry of Tourism during World Tourism Day celebrations on Friday.

Located in the Badamba tehsil of Odisha’s Cuttack district, Maniabandha is known for its rich textile tradition, which seamlessly blends Hindu and Buddhist influences. The village’s weavers have perfected the art of creating sarees using cruelty-free methods, extracting silk from cocoons naturally shed by silkworms—setting it apart from conventional practices where silkworms are boiled to obtain silk.

The ‘Best Tourism Villages Competition,’ introduced last year by the Ministry of Tourism, aims to spotlight villages that preserve cultural and natural heritage while promoting sustainability through community-driven efforts. This year, the competition received 991 applications from 30 states, with 36 villages emerging as winners across eight categories. Maniabandha was chosen for its excellence in the crafts category.

Maniabandha, situated near Odisha’s famed ‘Diamond Triangle’ of Buddhist sites—Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, and Udaygiri—is one of the state’s largest Buddhist villages. Over 520 Buddhist families in the village are engaged in handloom weaving, creating intricate silk and cotton sarees that have gained global recognition for their designs and textures.

The village is also home to eight Buddhist temples, and its residents follow a harmonious blend of Buddhism and Jagannath culture, which is reflected in their distinctive weaving styles. The community’s commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship is further demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to obtain a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Maniabandha saree.

With 688 weavers operating 624 looms under the Maniabandha handloom cluster, the village has built a reputation for producing high-quality cotton and silk sarees, using traditional vegetable dyes to achieve vibrant colors and unique patterns. These efforts have propelled Maniabandha’s textile products into the international market, making the village a hub for culturally rich, sustainable craftsmanship.

The recognition on World Tourism Day highlights Maniabandha’s vital role in promoting Odisha’s heritage and craftsmanship while aligning with global sustainability goals.

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