Among the various saris from different regions of India, Benarasi saris hold a special place because of their grandeur and opulence. They are made of the finest silk threads known to us. During the olden times, Benarasi saris were made of real gold and silver thread and therefore they used to be heavier than the other weaves. Brides from Bengal and Bihar still include the Benarasi sari as a part of their bridal trousseau. These treasured saris become a part of the heirloom which is passed on from one generation to the other. The Benarasi weave has caught so many Indian couturiers’ fancy and they have reinterpreted the silk sari in various styles. From Raw Mango to Sabyasachi, Benarasi saris remain an integral part of their collection and they are in awe of this plush weave.

History of Benarasi sari

Benarasi weave finds its mention in Rig Veda, which was written in 2000 BC. The Vedas mention that Gods and Goddesses wore silk cloth intertwined with gold threadwork. The Benarasi silk was also popular during the time of Gautam Buddha when he renounced all the worldly pleasure and gave away his silk robe for the humble cotton. The Buddhism connection of the weavers can still be seen in the Benarasi saris which they make as the brocade work features Tibetan motifs. Around the 14th century, during the Mughal reign, weaving work on silk with gold and silver thread became the specialty of Benaras. In 1603, there was a major famine in Gujarat and the weavers from that part of the country shifted to the city of lights.

Types of Benarasi sari

Benarasi sari can take around 15 to 30 days or even six months to complete, depending on the intricacy of the gold and silver threadwork done on it. There are four varieties of Benarasi saris. They include pure silk or Katan, organza with zari and silk, georgette, and shattir. These saris are also named according to the design work done on them. They are called Jangla, Vaskat, Tanchoi, Cutwork, Butidar, and Tissue.

Saris are quintessentially draped in a particular manner. But for this special edit of ours, we draped two Benarasi saris together and styling them in an unconventional way.

Credits
Words, Creative direction and styling: Akshay Kaushal
Photographer: Abhishek Shrivastava
Hair and makeup: Amita Juneja
Model: Dipti Pawar (Anima Creative Management)
Wardrobe: Chinaya BanarasAccessory: Bakajewelry
Retoucher: Lidia Stolyarova