Indian sarees are very popular all across the world. Indian weave of sarees are exclusive and the ones made in Bengal bring out the real tradition of the area. There are many variations of sarees available in India starting from tribal designs, Oriya design to the style from Manipur, but the handloom collections from Bengal outcast their numbers in terms of popularity.
Brief Description of Various Sarees from Bengal:
Some of the traditional sarees from handlooms of Bengal can be described as below-
Tants: Tant is the transparent Bengali Saree from the western region of Bengal. These are weaved from crisp quality muslin and have heavy border with detailed thread work. They are ideal ones for the humid and hot climate of Bengal.
Baluchori: These are the highly designed sarees that come with art work throughout its length of 5 yards. They are famous for the elaborate work with butis and floral design and the elegant zari work in the Anchal.
Jamdani: These are cotton based transparent and light sarees from handloom. They are famous for their elegant designs that are typically copied from the geometric designs of Bengali tribes, the peacock design etc.
Garad: These are silk baded sarees designed specifically for auspicious ocassions liks Pujas and similar festivals. They have red coloured borders against the body of cream, off-white or milk white colour and also come with elegant butis of zari work.
Kantha Stich: This is a rare work of art from Bengal that follows the theme of “Naksha” for the embroidery. These thread woven designs are typically done on cotton silk based sarees.
Shantipuri: Having its origin in the village of Nadia, Shantipur, the Shantipuri styled sarees are rare collections. But they are extremely tender in nature and comfortable to wear.
The Tradition of Bengali Sarees for Regular Wear:
The traditional collection of Bengali sarees are in vogue as style icons for ages. Even they are now days available for people in online sites as well. The main saree type that attacts women of any age are the handloom collections of tant. This style, originating from western Bengal is highly popular among women from both Bangladesh and south Bengal. The reason for its popularity lies in the weave of thread on cotton and the lightness of the material. Because it is light and transparent it us ideal for daily use. It is ideal solution for women residing in regions of high temperature and humidity. Tant is a saree for regular use. But both in modern and age old trend, silk dominated the saree market for festivals and parties. Some importanes are the Murshidabadi silk, Baluchori silk and Kantha stich collections.
