15 Essential Sarees for every Saree Lovers’ Wardrobe
Did you know that a saree can be draped in over 100 different ways? Well, in a country like India, where people love celebrating their festivals and sticking to their traditions, a saree becomes the part and parcel of every occasion. The nine yards of beauty is something that we hold really very close to our hearts.
Every state in India has traditional handloom sarees with unique elements attached to it. If you are a saree lover, then you must know about these different varieties and have at least 1 of each variety in your wardrobe.
Let us read about the significance of these sarees from different parts of the country and what’s so special about them.
The Graceful Baluchari Saree from West Bengal
These are fine, soft-silk sarees from Bengal spun with a lot of care and precision. You’ll find designs and stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana woven on them.
There are 3 varieties of Baluchari silk, one of them is made of normal muslin thread specifically in a single color, another is the Meenakari Baluchari made of muslin thread in 2 different colors and the last but not the least is the Swarnachuri- a variety of Baluchari Saree made of gold thread.
These sarees were only worn by the zamindari ladies of Bengal on all special occasions. The weavers take at least 1 week to weave these sarees. The grace and the charm exuded by Balucharis make them a must buy.
2. The Modest Kasavu Saree from Kerala
Kasavus are also called Settu sarees. Many years back, the locals just wore it as a mundu i.e a dhoti along with a blouse and a stole that went across the blouse. Lots of old people have still kept this style alive.
The Kasavus are comparatively modern versions and are recognized by the thick, shining golden border, woven in threads of real gold. Now times have changed and along with the changing times, Kasavu sarees have modified to include bright colors and artificial threads as well. These sarees are usually in huge demand during Festival time like Onam.
3. The Classy and Versatile Kanjeevaram Saree from Tamil Nadu
Mythology says that Kanchi silk weavers from the temple city of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu are the descendants of “Sage Markandeya”, the master weaver of gods who was said to have woven tissue from lotus fiber. The queen of sarees, Kanjeevaram is made of real mulberry silk thread. They are extremely rich in color and texture as well as a symbol of purity, elegance, and grace all in a single drape. Planning to buy a Kanjeevaram for your wedding? We have a huge range of Kanjeevaram sarees available on the eanythingindian.com website.
4. The Beaming Bomkai Saree from Odisha
Bomkai saree from Odisha is also known as Sonepuri Silk as they are made in the Sonepur area or Subarnapur district of Orissa. These sarees are made in both cotton and silk and make for great festive wear.
The saree would usually be dyed to get a color combination of red, black and white, but nowadays they are woven in all kinds of different colors. Even Aishwarya Rai was seen wearing a variety of Bomkai called “Radha Kunja” on her wedding day. Her Bomkai was specially woven by Chaturbhuj Meher, the reputed designer from Sonepur, Orissa.
5. The Sophisticated Sambalpuri Saree from Odisha
Sambalpuri sarees are traditionally handwoven sarees from Sambalpur in Orissa. These sarees are a delicate weave of different techniques where the threads are well-dyed before weaving, this technique makes the rich color stay for a long time. These sarees are extremely well-known for the incorporation of traditional motifs like shankha, chakra, Phula and other geometrical patterns having a deep association with the original Odia colours of red, white and black that denote the true Odia culture symbolising Lord Jagannatha’s face colour.
6. The Priceless Paithani Saree from Maharashtra
The Paithanis originated in Aurangabad, the city with a rich history for both Hindus and Muslims. Aurangabad thrives on tourism.
This grand silk saree made of Ciddle Gatta or China Silk usually has a gold zari border with fine, delicate motifs. The reappearing peacock designs on the pallus make this saree stand out. Paithani is considered to be one of the most expensive sarees of India. Many women also buy kalamkari sarees for their wedding day.
7. The Beautiful Bandhani Saree from Gujarat
Most of us have heard of tie and dye, we even practised the art of tie and dye as kid, with little lentils tied on onto a piece of cloth. These sarees are moth popular in the western states of India like Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Both of these states are well known for bandhanis but Gujarat is more popular as the weavers of the Khatri community of Gujarat are considered to be the pioneers of Bandhanis. They practice this ancient art exclusively even to this day. Today, many of the bandhani making centers are situated in Punjab and Tamil Nadu as well. In Tamil Nadu, these sarees are called Sungudi.
The Bandhani pattern can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization and are usually seen in bright, fiery colours quite common in western parts of India. The earliest traces of Bandhani dots can be seen on the walls of the Ajanta caves depicting the life and legends of Lord Buddha.
8. The Lively Leheriya Saree From Rajasthan
Leheriyas are nothing but just another form of Bandhani Sarees. These are not much different from the classic Bandhanis. The only basic difference is that they follow an entirely different technique of tie and dye process. Leheriyas are highly popular in Rajasthan and usually found on chiffon sarees and georgettes. These are also preferred by the women of the royal family.
9. The Captivating Chanderi Saree from Madhya Pradesh
The weaving culture of a chanderi saree emerged around 2nd to 7th century B.C. The speciality of chanderi is that silk, zari and cotton are woven together in the best possible way to create a fabric lighter than feather. Chanderis have a royal gorgeous sheen. These sarees are exquisitely beautiful, extremely comfortable and can be worn at every occasion to be the centre of attention.
10. The Noble Narayanpet Saree from Maharashtra
The term Global village was extensively popular in the Indian subcontinent even before anybody in the world had embraced the idea of a global village. The merged culture of different princely states around the country produced some of the most classic weaves that are appreciated for their unique beauty even to this day.
The story of Narayanpet saree is something very similar. This style of weaving shows the merging of two states Maharashtra and Telangana. Narayanpet Saree is named after the small sleepy hamlet of Narayanpet in Telangana. These sarees were draped on the deities and are fit for the gods and goddesses. It got its Royal Maratha patronage under chatrapati Shivaji’s campaign, as Shivaji was literally enamoured with these sarees when he saw the local women draped in them.
11. The Magnificent Muga Saree from Assam
Muga Silk sarees and mekhela chadors are quite popular in Assam. Muga silk is a favourite amongst women from all over India. Muga is a wild silk geographically tagged to the Indian state of Assam. It is well-known for it’s high level of durability, yellowish golden tint and shimmering glossy texture.
Sarees and Mekhela Chadors (Traditional Assamese Dress) in Muga are extremely costly. In the olden days, it was exclusively reserved for the royalty.
12. The Bold Banarasi Saree from Varanasi
Banarasi sarees are popular for their intricate designs and motifs in real gold and silver thread. Originating from the cultural capital of India- Varanasi, Varanasi is a city older than history itself. Art, culture, religion, silk, muslin and good food drape this city in their grandeur and vivacity. Banarasi is a favourite for all bengali brides and it should not just be a part of every bengali bride’s trousseau but all brides can buy at least one benarasi saree for their wedding. Many world famous designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee experiment with sarees and lehenga in Banarasi silk.
Times might have changed but sarees play an important role in the lives of all Indian women. Handloom silk sarees are a heritage piece in the Indian subcontinent as the handloom sector plays a vital role in our country’s economy, as a result, even the government is taking some major steps to optimize all the available resources. Our handloom sector involves more than 30 lakh weavers and is the 2nd largest economic activity after agriculture.
Discover a wide range of handloom silk sarees, salwar suits and lehengas for every occasion on the eanythingindian website now!
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