The saree, named Kolaboti Saree, was made entirely from banana fiber and took 15 days to weave. It features different color designs that evoke the atmosphere of Jamdani. Radhabati Debi has been weaving traditional Manipuri sarees for a long time and is currently training new saree artisans.
Bandarban District Commissioner Yasmin Parvin Tibriji expressed excitement at the success of weaving a beautiful saree with banana fiber. Tibriji sees potential in creating employment opportunities in the hilly areas where wild banana trees are abundant. The unique saree is named after the ‘Kala’ part of the banana tree and the ‘Boti’ part of Radhabati.
The success of Radhabati Debi has brought joy to the Manipuri community of Kamalganj, and locals hope that sarees made from banana fiber will open up new horizons in the weaving industry. Tibriji initiated a pilot project to create yarn from discarded banana bark, which was supported by non-governmental organizations Worldvision, Grouse, and Uddipan.
