#Saris_A2Z is a segment purely for sharing our knowledge about saris, alphabetically. Today lets together explore all types of saris starting with letter 'b'.
I will share pictures and information, I have collected about two types whose name starts with the letter b, a Baluchari and a Benarsi. For the backdrop to both these pictures hidden 'jewels' in Singapore have been unearthed and used.
The Baluchari Sari originated in West Bengal, and is mainly worn by the women of India and Bangladesh. It is a hand woven saree using richly dyed silk, with intricate motifs depicting Indian mythology woven onto its large ‘pallu’. Baluchari takes a week to be woven, and the craftsmen are largely centered in Murshidabad. The designs are mainly from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and are worn as a sign of aristocracy and status. They are indeed connoisseurs’ items.
Finding a mention in the Mahabharata and in the Buddhist scriptures in the first millennium, Banarasi saris have its roots seeped into the rich cultural history of India. Originally crafted exclusively for the royalty, each Banarasi sari was created from real gold and silver threads, taking as much as a year to make. These are an unmatched example of excellent artistry. Atleast three craftsmen work together to make up one sari by using the power-loom. One artisan has to weave the silk and one has to dye the silk, where the other one has to engage the bundle of silk, which creates the power ring.
A Banarasi Sari is a favorite among the brides owing to its royal aura.
Abhinika shares this picture of hers in a batik sari.
Batik is the art of dyeing that has been a part of India’s costumes and culture for the last 2000 years. The technique of producing batik clothing basically involves designing the desired cloth with wax and then placing it in a dye bath. This enables all the areas of the fabric without the wax to absorb the colors.
The major pull-factor of a batik sari is in its multifarious designs and prints. Often the body of the sari is dyed in one color which is complemented by a contrast in the color of the border and the pallu. Along with a difference in hues, the sari usually also has a bold motif on the pallu.
Gayatri shares her pictures in a Bomkai, with following information..
"Woven on a pit loom, Bomkai, which is also known as Sonepuri, is an extraordinary fabric that results from the confluence of two extremely popular components of the Orissa textile industry. In its simplest, Bomkai can be explained as an extra weft technique on a pit loom.It is an outcome of Ikat and embroidery interwoven into each other. The borders are often in contrasting colors and the pallus marked by intricate threadwork. The motifs on the Bomkai are inspired from nature and tribal art, giving the sari a fascinating look that makes it perfect for aristocracy. Bomkai saris are available in cotton and silk."
Renu sends in her bandhni pictures and adds...
"My beautiful Rajasthani friend Renu, in her bandhani sari..
She shares
"Bandhani is a type of tie-dye textile decorated primarily by plucking the cloth with the fingernails into many tiny bindings that form a figurative design. The term bandhani is derived from the Sanskrit word banda. Today most Bandhini making centers are situatied in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sindh, Punjab region Earliest evidence of Bandhani dates back to Indus Valley Civilization where dyeing was done as early as 4000 B.C. The earliest example of the most pervasive type of Bandhani dots can be seen in the 6th century paintings depicting the life of Buddha found on the wall of Cave 1 at Ajanta."
Arundhati writes about her bandhej
"I am wearing a bandhej. Its a fabric made using tie and dye method. Smaller the knots; smaller and more intricate will be design and ofcourse difficult to create."
Geeta in her bomkai.
