Elegant Banarsi Sarees

Banarsi saris are considered one of the finest saris in the world.Made of finely woven silk and decorated with elaborate embroidery ,as the name suggests ,these saris are the specialty of Banaras in Uttar Pardesh, India.
Banarsi saris reached the pinnacle of their popularity during the Mughal era. This was the time when the motifs underwent a change and new designs evolved which were combinations of Indian and Persian patterns.
The popularity of a Banarsi sari has increased over the years and even today women eye a beautiful Banarsi sari with envy.For some a genuine Banarsi sari is considered a reassure and a valuable family asset.
Generally speaking Banarsi saris are worn on formal occasions such as weddings and are a must in every woman’s wardrobe.
Here are few interesting facts.
Tradtionally there are four types of Banarsi saris :pure silk sari(katan),organza sari (kora), with zari and silk, georgette sari and shatter sari.
Although the design variations of Banarsi saris are limitless,the most prominent feature is the use of rich paisley motifs either elaborately embroided all over the sari, or only along the border.The motifs may show flowers,foliage or monkey prints.
An ideal Banarsi sari comprises some where around 5600 thread wires ,all of them 45 inches wide. Usually it takes between 15 and 30 days to hand weave a simple Banarsi sari design; elaborate designs can take up to six months or more to complete.
The use of Banarsi sari varies according to its material,color and design. Starting 5000 rupees, the cost of a heavily embroided sari may go up to 15000 rupees.