Chandela Era Silk and Cotton Weaving Heritage of Panna

Panna district weaving tradition has roots in the Chandela-period textile trade that made central India a source of fine cotton for Mughal and Maratha courts. Local Koshthi weaver families produce cotton saris with block-printed borders on handloom in Pawai and Ajaigarh tehsils. The block printing uses carved teak wood stamps and natural dyes — indigo for blue, madder for red, turmeric for yellow. The diamond-shaped motif called chaupad appears repeatedly in Panna weaving, possibly a symbolic reference to the district diamond-mining heritage. Post-independence decline of this tradition was partially reversed by MP Handloom Corporation market support. The Paithani-style borders with supplementary weft gold threads are produced by master weavers for the bridal market.