Banarasi Saree

Banarasi Saree

Benaras or Varanasi is the heaven of dazzling silk sarees. The inflow of pilgrims developed Varanasi as a trade centre. Besides traders, crafts people also settled in Varanasi. Today the city is renowned for its silk weavers, who prepare the finest types of woven silk fabrics. A Banarasi silk sari or shawl is traditionally a single colored textile with motifs and patterns woven in gold or silver threads. The technique is intricate, the procedure complex and demands great expertise .As the warp and the weft are interwoven on the loom, small, often minute shuttles with gold thread are introduced to form the motif. When the design of the motif is completed, a knot is made and the gold thread cut. The weaving continues until the next design. The smaller the motif or the more intricate the design, the more complex the weaving skills required.

Silk weaving in Varanasi is a cottage industry and in many areas of the city. Entire families are involved; Children often pick up the art from the elders at an early age. There are shops in Varanasi, and throughout India, which sell these fine silk fabrics.

Silk weaving is perhaps the most popular art of Varanasi and Banarasi silk sarees form an indispensable part of an Indian bride's trousseau. Around 3,000 kilograms (6,614 lb.) of silk are consumed by the weaving units daily. The world-famous gold and silver brocades and richly worked saris are known to have passed on from generations to generations much like family jewels without loosing their charm. It won't be wrong to say that every Indian woman possesses at least one Benarasi Saree.

We recommend you to go to Government emporia or authorized shops to get the best of Benarasi Silk. The other shopping hotspots in Varanasi are Chowk, Gyan Vapi, Vishwanath Gali, Thatheri Bazar, Lahurabir, Godoulia or Dashswamedh Gali and Golghar. You should be ready for some bargaining if you are buying stuffs from the local vendors.