The Panika community from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh creates authentic handwoven PATA sarees using traditional handloom techniques. This Indian textile craft features rice starch-treated cotton yarns, interlocking extra weft weaving for intricate designs, and the distinctive 3-shuttle technique (Phera) for two-colored borders. Skilled artisan weavers work entirely from memory, preserving generations of indigenous handloom heritage and sustainable textile craftsmanship.

Bastar in Chhattisgarh is a historic handloom hub where tribal communities like the Panika, Gond, Muria and Maria have preserved unique weaving traditions for generations, especially the Aal-dyed Pata textiles.
Using deep red Aal dye from Indian mulberry roots and Panika weaving techniques, Bastar’s weavers create distinctive Pata sarees and cloth with creamy white fields and maroon borders, training children into skilled artisans by their late teens.