India Travel Times for Travel News

Traditional Paithani saris maintaining its golden legacy
by Abdul Hadi

Aurangabad (Maharashtra): Traditional Paithani saris that were once patronized by the royalty, have continued to maintain its charm among the women in contemporary India. Paithani saris are today a prized possession and have survived the test of time. It is said that the erstwhile Maratha rulers of Maharashtra had a special preference for Paithani textiles and patronized them. The traditional Paithani saris have continued to attract women by its distinct appeal even in cotemporary times. The golden embroidered saris with their intricate designs and appealing woven borders narrate the heritage through their design and colours that are native to Maharashtra. The specialty of a Paithani sari lies in its border and Pallu (rear end of the sari). Earlier, just two or three colours were popular which were integrated in the sari in the Dhup-Chaon (light and shade) pattern. But now with changing times, new and attractive colours are freely used. Paithani's main attraction is the use of gold thread, which has been in use for ages. But today silver is also substituted for gold, thus making these saris affordable to many people. Paithani sari is entirely hand woven and depending on the intricacy of the design, it takes anything from two months to two years to weave a single sari. The traditional Paithani used to be a plain sari with a heavy embroidery (golden thread) border and ornately decorated Pallu. But, today, motifs like stars, circles, peacocks, flowers and paisleys are used to make the Paithanis more beguiling than they have been. These saris derive its name from the place of origin, Paithan. Today, the demand for these saris is very high in India and abroad. "Mostly women work in this sector and make traditional Paithani saris in pure silk and zari. It may take two months to two year prepare a single sari. The cost ranges from rupees 15,000 to 150,000 rupees. If gold thread is used, the cost can go up to 600,000 rupees for a Paithani sari," said Rakshe Gajanan, a sari distributor. "The demand for these saris is good in India and also people from countries like America, Paris, Canada, UAE, Nepal, take them for individual purposes. Also the demand for the borders is high and we make them also," Gajanan added. Paithani weaving is a flourishing industry employing mostly women. "I've been working here for past seven years and the weaving of these saris is very hard. It is a very intricate work involving minute detailing and puts a great stress on the eyes. And the money we earn from this really helps us a lot in meeting our expenses," said Rekha Dhawle, a weaver. Despite being a little expensive than normal saris, the Paithani sari have been a popular choice in wedding ceremonies in the country. Besides Paithan, these saris are also woven in Yeola, Pune, Nasik, Malegaon in Maharashtra.
-Dec 19, 2008

Go To Top

Leading Indian News Papers