The Loom of Life: A Weaver’s Festival Struggle

The Looms

Sanatan is a humble weaver living in a rural village, working tirelessly on his hand-operated wooden loom. With the grand festival of Durga Puja approaching, he speeds up his work, knowing that he must complete weaving all the sarees before the festival begins. If he fails, the merchant he works for—a mahajan—will deduct his rightful wages. Sanatan weaves on a dadan basis, meaning he takes an advance and repays it through labor.

In his modest household lives his father, who silently lends a hand by tugging the shuttle when Sanatan takes a break. His wife spins thread all day at the spinning wheel, and they have one daughter, their only child. His wife once dreamt of sending their little girl to a KG school, but financial constraints meant she had to settle for a government primary school instead.

Sanatan wishes to gift his daughter a new dress for the Puja. He also wants to buy a dhoti for his father and a printed saree for his wife. Though he ignores his own needs, he secretly weaves an extra saree—a tender green one with delicate patterns on the anchal—just for his wife. He hides it away with care, a symbol of his quiet love.

But fate plays a cruel trick. Sudden rainfall floods his loom room, halting all work. When the water finally recedes, he works day and night to make up for the lost time. The festive market in Kolkata is already abuzz, and the mahajan is growing impatient. Somehow, Sanatan finishes weaving all the sarees.

On the eve of Mahalaya, the mahajan arrives at his house to collect the sarees. Sanatan hands him the required ones, but the mahajan demands one more—a total that includes the saree Sanatan had lovingly saved for his wife. With a heavy heart and the shame of powerlessness, Sanatan surrenders even that cherished piece.

Then comes Mahashasthi. Sanatan heads to the mahajan’s house to collect his hard-earned wages. He’s told his daughter to get ready—today, he’ll take her to the market to buy a new dress. But reality hits hard. The mahajan informs him that instead of cash, he received a cooling machine from the Kolkata dealer. There is no money to pay Sanatan now—he must come back after the festival.

Crushed, Sanatan walks away in silence. His daughter is waiting, unaware that her hopes will be unmet this year.

Wandering aimlessly, Sanatan finds himself in the open field. He knows this can’t go on. He’s decided to try joining a cooperative weaving unit after Puja, though securing a spot there is tough. Even approaching the government handloom office seems pointless—connections matter more than skill there.

Still, he must find an alternative. He cannot carry the weight of his family’s needs on such uncertain shoulders any longer. As he sits in the quiet field, he tells himself he’ll return home late. Night falls. His daughter will sleep soon. She may not wait anymore.

Sanatan turns back home. A new day will come tomorrow—and with it, his quiet fight for a better life will continue.