Patan Potala

History One of the folk-song of Gujarat in which the wife asks her husband to bring for her patola of patan while returning, “Chelaji Re, Mare Hatu patan thi patola mongha lavjo”,(O my dear! Do bring the precious patola from patan for me!) has remained very famous for the last so many years, and so is the fame, charm and popularity of patola even today. Patola is a holy silk-cloth. It’s believed that by wearing patola containing religious and miraculous powers, one feels God. It was this quality, which made the people of Thailand, Malaysiya and Indonesia Value the Patola above all treasures. For them it was a magic cloth, which protected you in battle, which protected you from evil and bad health. It was the power cloth, which was inherited by the women and gave them a very high status. Today, it is gifted to the daughter and daughter-in-law on occasions of marriages in rich families as a sign of good omen. It is considered to be wearing a high status. To process and wear patola on holy occasions is considered to be a matter of pride of cloth of ma’a or mawa,(Indonesian words meaning “created by God”) which was considered so perfect that it could only have been created by the gods. Patola has a very old history. It is believed that the word “patola” must have been derived from the word “pat”, and in Sanskrit it is called “patta” and in telugu “patola”. It has been mentioned in the tour-depiction that in 1342 A.D. a merchant named IBEN BATUTA gifted patolas to many kings in their courts. Patolas were amply used in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were used as precious gifts. Getting made patolas was as dignified as getting rich ornaments prepared. A French traveler has noted in his dairy that the patolas of patan weresent up to Malaysia and Indonesia. Patolas were famous from java, Sumatra to Samarkand, basra, damask and rome in the 15 century. Gujarat poet premananad of the 17th century, in his famous narrative “KUNVARBAINU MAMERU” has referred to patolas as “Lakho Pachhedi Pandar kodi, Patola pachas vahuji”[Kadvu-6][Please note that I will have 300 upper clothes and fifty patolas for marriages] “Laish patolu shrikar, sadi nai paheru”[Kadvu-12][I will have the patola of shrikar (sacred shapped), but will not wear a saree]. Patolas are also referred in the Duhas of Ranakdevi as : “Juvo Patolawalio lombdiwalino kand”. The psychological motif behind the specific combination of color and design of Patola is worth understanding. The square arouses the feeling of security, as woman generally desire security in every occasions of the life. The Symbols of Elephant, Parrot, Peacock, Kalas(Jug) and the Human left are all considered to be the auspicious symbol of saubhagya (A Women’s good luck of having husband alive!) The Feeling of good luck and security are imbibed in the Patola, and hence, such auspicious symbols are found in them. INTRODUCTION India has a rich and ancient heritage in fine textiles. (Double Ikat) Patola from the area of patan in the north Gujarat region of western India glorifies this heritage with its unique gem like qualities gorgeous colors, designing and durability. Its very appearance lures the connoisseur of fine textiles. It has no reverse side. Both the sides have equal intensity of color and design. This peculiar quality has its origins in a very intricate and difficult technique of the dyeing or Knot dyeing known as “Bandhani Process” on the warp & weft separately before weaving. Before world war-2., Indonesia was a major buyer of patolas. Historically , the art of double ikat patola weaving dates back to centuries. Painting in Ajanta caves, resemble the tie-dye technique of patola. Legend indicates that sometimes in the 12th century A.D. king kumarpal of solanki dynasty invited 700 families of patola weavers from jalna (south Maharashtra) to settle down in patan in north Gujarat.