An Indian woman, clad in a Banarasi silk saree,
complete with her solah sringar (16 makeup items), is the dream girl of
every Indian man. There is hardly any woman in India whose wardrobe does
not include Banarsi sarees. Even the trousseau of a bride is incomplete
without this much-coveted possession. Benarasi Sari offers such grace to
a woman that can hardly be matched by any other dress. However, behind
all this grace is a weaver, whose skill and genius goes into the making
of such a splendid outfit. Usually, it takes around 15 days to one month
to complete a Banarasi saree. Still, the time may vary depending upon
the complexity of designs and patterns of the sari.
The Mughal era was the time when the fame and recognition of Banarsi
silk sarees of India reached its pinnacle. Even the motifs underwent a
change and the saree saw new designs, resulting from the combination of
Indian and Persian patterns. Today, Indian craftsman are exporting
Banarsi sarees, the specialty of Benaras/Varanasi, to the remotest
corners of the world. Numerous weavers, in and around the city of
Benaras, are engaged in this ever-expanding industry. The silk used in
the making of Indian Benarasi silk sarees is being sourced from the
southern parts of the country, mainly Bangalore.
Types of Banarsi Sarees
There are following four basic varieties of Banarasi silk saree:
