An Overview of Bengali Sarees

An Overview of Bengali Sarees

My experience as a Bengali says that Bengal is often associated with three things- Bengali women, Bengali sweets (‘rosogolla’ and ‘mishti doi’ to name the most popular ones in the list) and of course, Bengali sarees. Actually, Bengali sarees have now crossed the borders of Bengal to impress thousands of women across the country! That is why I thought of coming up with this article to give you a fair idea of what Bengali sarees are about!

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The Bengali cotton sarees

The climate in West Bengal is not only hot but also humid. That is why, the Bengali cotton sarees are so very commonly known! Cotton sarees provide comfort to you and at the same time, can be really colourful and gorgeous. Whether you want a sober and dignified look or you wish to flaunt a frivolous spirit, you have Bengali cotton sarees to suit every occasion. The borders of the sarees are wonderful and the texture is either soft and papery or crisp! It tends to soften with every wash.

The tradition of handloom weaving is an ancient art of Bengal and based on that, you have various sarees named:

• Tant sarees– The Bengali ‘Tant’ is very popular and it is cotton-based. Bright colours and heavy borders characterize the ‘tant’ sarees.

• Daccai Jamdani sarees– The Daccai Jamdanis’ origin can be traced back to the East of Bengal and has been named after Bangladesh’ capital city- Dacca. These hand-woven sarees have a fine, transparent and light texture and it takes a lot of time to get weaved. The sarees are price range is very wide, ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 20,000 and adds a different dimension to your personality!

• Dhonekhali/Dhaniakhali sarees– The name comes from the ‘Dhianiakhali’ district of Hoogly in West Bengal. These cotton sarees are normally of six meters drape and have a thread count of 100 by 100. The borders are brightly set in sharp contrast and are about 2 inches wide. They come affordable in price and are quite bright to look at.

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• Shantipuri sarees– The name comes from a small village in the district of Nadia in Bengal. The sarees are fine and looks classy when worn.

• Tangail sarees– Tangail sarees are generally woven in a combination of two or three colours, like a majority of other Bengali sarees. The name comes from the ‘Tangail’ village of Bangladesh. Butti designs, flowery patterns and modern art comprise some of the embellishments of the Tangail sarees.

The Bengali silk sarees

• Baluchari sarees– In the district of Murshidabad, there is a village situated on the banks of River Bhagirati. The village is named Baluchari. The Baluchari sarees owe its origin to this village. The process of making a Baluchari saree is quite long and the production process include cocoon cultivation, yarn processing, motif making and finally weaving. These sarees mark a sense of Bengal aristocracy. Whether you have the scenes of the Mahabharata or Ramayana or the the Mughal reign, different historical allusions are used as the design theme of these sarees. The sarees are generally five yards long and the silk is polished thoroughly after weaving to give an elegant look.

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• Garad sarees– These are traditional silk sarees of Bengal and you find Bengali women wearing them during pujas and religious occasions. The texture is smooth, the ground is natural and the borders are usually red. Whether created out of tussar or mulberry, Garad sarees are mostly undyed and are also quite pricey!

• Korial Sarees– If you want something gorgeous yet sober, sensuous yet graceful and dignified, Korial saree is what you want. Often these sarees are associated with the most pompous festival of Bengal- the Durga Puja.

Experiments are going on to improve and modify the texture as well as the design of Bengali sarees so that they have a universal appeal. However care is taken to preserve the individuality of each saree because it is this sense of individuality that sets the Bengali sarees apart from the rest.

Image source: 1, 2, 3

Also read:

History of Banarasi Sarees and Celebrities in Banarasi Grandeur
How To Accessorize Cotton Sarees
How To Wear A Saree In Bengali Style
8 Different Ways to Drape Saree
Saree: Sizzling Indian Sarees for Diwali
Saree: Types of Sarees
The Bengali Bride – Wedding Rituals, Sarees and More
Saree and Blouses Collection, Blouse Styles
Kerala Saree/ Kasavu Saree
The Charming World of Sarees

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5 thoughts on “An Overview of Bengali Sarees

  1. Once we come to a village named Baluchari, we came to know about the famous Baluchari sarees. Independent patterns are created with every weave, and the sari is about five yards in length.

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