Amalaki is a Kotpad handloom saree woven in golden Tussar Cotton Silk — a natural dyed tribal saree from Odisha bearing the earthy authority of aal bark dyeing and tribal motifs such as the macha (fish) and pharsa (axe) across its body and pallu.

The Craft Behind Amalaki

This GI certified Kotpad textile is made by Mirgan tribal weavers of Odisha, who have practised vegetable dye weaving across generations. The aal bark — sourced from the Morinda citrifolia tree — is boiled until it releases its characteristic red-gold pigment. Handspun cotton and Tussar silk fibres are soaked in this dye bath, absorbing colour through repeated immersions. No synthetic chemicals intervene at any stage; the colour is fixed naturally through alum-based mordants derived from local mineral sources. This unhurried process gives authentic Kotpad handloom its warm, earth-rooted palette that no artificial dye can replicate. Each saree takes 25 to 30 days to complete on a pit loom.

Wearing Amalaki

The Tussar Cotton Silk blend gives Amalaki a texture that is gently nubby against the hand yet settles into a composed drape on the body. It holds its form through a day of wear without stiffness. The weight is moderate — present enough to anchor the pallu, light enough to move without effort. As a Kotpad saree for ethnic wear, its golden ground and red tribal motifs carry the kind of restraint that reads clearly in both formal and ceremonial settings. As a Kotpad saree for festivals, the kumbha border and macha motifs align with Odishan visual tradition in a way that feels grounded rather than decorative. As a natural dyed saree for gifting, Amalaki carries the weight of verified craft provenance — each motif woven, not printed.

Pasapali presents Amalaki as part of an ongoing documentation of original Kotpad saree online, rooted in the living practice of Mirgan weavers.

Explore More Handloom Sarees

Amalaki is part of Pasapali's collection of Kotpad Handloom sarees from Odisha. Read the story behind the brand and the weavers who make them.