Everything You Should Know About A Banarasi Saree

by Sanjeev Yadav SEO Consultant

Every Indian woman, at least once in her life, has dreamt worn a banarasi saree or dreamt of owning one. The gleaming and sparkling gold and silver threads embroidered into silk through handloom are what makes banarasi sarees so exquisite. A single banarasi saree takes more somewhere around two to six weeks for completion. The craftsmanship and the efforts put into the making of a banarasi saree are quite clearly visible in each piece that is designed using this technique. Today, there are hundreds of stores selling banarasi sarees and countless banarasi saree dealers in Varanasi, but before buying one, it is important to know everything there is to be known about this unique creation.

Where Did It Originate?

The first mention of banarasi saree was made in the Rig Vedas, the Buddhist scriptures and even before in the Mahabharata. The visually and textually extraordinary sarees were originally crafted as the attire of gods and for the royals of the earlier age. These sarees see their origin in Benaras, now Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. This city has always been a center for weaving and has given some excellent crafts since time immemorial and banarasi sarees are one of them. It is very easy to spot a banarasi saree dealer in Varanasi.

How Are Banarasi Sarees Weaved?

The weaving process of a banarasi saree is very different from any other saree. There are huge handlooms and now even mechanical looms where resham threads mixed with gold and silver threads run through its lengths and breadths. To these resham threads, the gold and silver threads, known as zari threads, are added which are made after flattening thin metal strips. The motifs visible in the banarasi saree are the work of these zari metal threads only.

What Are The Special Features Of Banarasi Saree?

These exquisite banarasi sarees have a number of special features that make them one of the most royal and expensive sarees in India. Be it a Bollywood star or a royal lady, a banarasi saree is a must-have in everyone’s closet for casting a lasting impression. Its special features like the designs being first created on paper, hundreds of patterns called naksha patra created for a single saree for punching in the design, the silver & zari work, Islamic motifs, etc., make a banarasi saree stand out every single time. One can even find a variety of banarasi sarees like Katan banarasi saree made from pure silk, kora saree made using organza, zari & silk, georgette banarasi sarees, and shattir banarasi sarees.

How To Identify A Pure Banarasi Saree?

One of the main questions that most people ask regarding a banarasi saree is how to know whether it is pure banarasi or not. This can be done by carefully looking at the back side of the saree and the heavy thread work done there.

A banarasi saree is indeed one of the most regal and exquisite sarees that one can own. But before contacting a banarasi saree dealer, it is imperative to know everything about it to make a calculative decision and not get scammed by the salesmen trying to sell a dupe.