Banarasi silk sarees, considered premium and highly woven, are famous throughout the globe for their sheer beauty and work. These sarees, which were woven in the ancient civilization city Varanasi, are not only a gateway to Indian classical civilization draping but also signify opulence. Even while the majority are aware of their sleek texture and exquisite ornamentation, they still have many fascinating aspects unseen by the public eye regarding Banarasi silk sarees. In this blog, I am going to explore interesting Facts About Banarasi Silk Sarees that give a viewer a glimpse of how beautiful the craft is and how much hard work goes into producing these marvelous pieces of art.
Table of Contents
- 11 Lasser Known Facts About Banarasi Silk Sarees
- 1. 5600 Threads
- 2. Hundreds of Perforated Cards
- 3. More Than Just Silk
- 4. Royal Connection
- 5. Year of the Weaver
- 6. Song of the Loom
- 7. Passed Down Through Generations
- 8. Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
- 9. Not Just for Weddings
- 10. An Art Form
- 11. Floral Inspiration
- Conclusion
11 Lasser Known Facts About Banarasi Silk Sarees
1. 5600 Threads
A pure Banaras saree has 5600 incoming thread wires in it. More so, the elaborate work of art includes various threads of fabrics that are woven in a rather complex manner.
2. Hundreds of Perforated Cards
Banarasi Saree manufacturing; A single design of a Banarasi Saree may entail use of as many as 200 perforated cards to actualize the design idea about the saree. These cards are used in a Jacquard loom, which is a loom that is quite unique in the sense that it can be used to produce each of the patterns seen here.
3. More Than Just Silk
However, out of all the fabrics that are utilized in the creation of Banarasi sarees, silk is the most popular fabric but it is not the only one; currently, other fabrics that are used include organza, georgette, and even cotton fabrics. This is one of the Lasser Known Facts About Banarasi Silk Sarees.
4. Royal Connection
Historically, Banarasi silk sarees were made with a very limited class of people, the royals, in mind. Real gold and silver threads used for each of the Banarasi saree, and it was said that the whole process could take as many as one year to complete a single piece.
5. Year of the Weaver
The duration it takes to make the Banarasi saree depends on the design to be made for the saree; it may take weeks, months or even more.
6. Song of the Loom
The sound of weaving is soothing and rhythmic, something that might be familiar to dwellers of Varanasi as every weaver has his own particular tempo.
7. Passed Down Through Generations
The processes applied in the construction of Banarasi sarees have been inherited from the generation of specialized weavers. Such artisans are also known as ‘always’.
8. Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
To prevent impersonation of the Banarasi sarees the Government of India has awarded this product a Geographical Indications tag. This means that only those sarees which are produced in Varanasi and which accrue to the specific standards and or requirements of Banarasi sarees can, be said to so be.
9. Not Just for Weddings
Traditional Banarasi sarees themselves are used for occasional wear mainly during functions such as weddings, but they can also be used for day-to-day wear. Nonetheless, there are lighter-weight ones that are not so uncomfortable if one wears them for a few hours at a time.
10. An Art Form
These are not just ordinary wear; they are art pieces; the modeling and weaving narrate a tale and give off the feel of traditional India.
11. Floral Inspiration
It is commonly observed that most of the motifs that are incorporated into Banarasi sarees are floral in origin. This portray depicts the fact that the natural environment is beautiful and is an indication of the fact that the artisan is a nature lover.
Conclusion
Banarasi silk sarees are not merely articles of clothing but what is more important is that; it is pride, tradition, glory, and beauty. From the inspirations of the Mughals to the entire process of hand-weaving that goes into creating each saree, it is history. It is only through such pluralistic facts which are seldom revealed to the public that one can better understand the hard-working artisans who devote their time for generations in this oldest of trades. For lovers of arts and textiles as well as lovers of traditional fashion, the Banarasi silk saree still stands tall as one of the best and most symbolic pieces.
