Banarasi Silk Sarees, also known as Benarasi Silk, are the queen of Indian sarees. Here we have a list of Best Banarasi Silk Sarees with over 250 of them especially curated for you Gorgeous. These Sarees are woven using gold or silver threads and created with the highest grade silk fabrics. Banarasi Silk Saree is extremely popular and enjoys the epitome status of artistic brilliance.
Banarasi Silk sarees have intricate zari work with delicate embroidery. The sarees carry a mystic charm, probably as they have their origin in Varanasi, the holy city in Uttar Pradesh, India. Banarasi sarees combine Persian and Indian styles and have decorations with small booties or motifs across the entire length.
Latest Banarasi Silk Sarees
What is Banarasi Silk Saree – Origin and History of Spectacular Designs
The art and culture of Banarasi Silk Sarees are very ancient. These sarees have been mentioned in the Mahabharata as well as in the Buddhist scriptures of the first millennium. Banarasi silk sarees have deep roots in the rich cultural history of India.
Mughals also encouraged this fine craftsmanship and glorified the art of weaving and designing. Persian motifs were also mixed during this period, with the designs of Indian silk for creating the distinctive flowery pattern of Banarasi silk sarees.
Royal Legacy of Banarasi Silk Sarees
Originally Banarasi Silk Sarees were exclusively made for the royal families from real gold and silver threads. This evident from the regal designs and embroidery patterns of this Indian attire. This is why Banarasi Sarees are treasured even today. They are invaluable and are passed down through generations from Mothers to their Daughters or Daughters-in-Law.
What are the distinctive designs of Banarasi Silk Sarees?
The unique characteristics of Banarasi saree are their most intricate borders designs. The impressive look of Banarasi Sarees is due to its signature design called jhallar. The zari work on the Banarasi Sarees has intertwining floral and foliate motifs, a string of leaves and flowers called kalga and bel, at the border’s outer edge. The distinctive features of Banarasi silk sarees include the heavy working of gold, small detailed figures, metal visual effects, and compact weaving as well.
Today, Banarasi silk sarees are the ideal choice to wear on any festive occasion or traditional functions. No doubt, a Banarasi Silk Saree can elevate your look without much ado. Pair your Banarasi silk saree with a gorgeous ensemble of ethnic jewelry and footwear, like stunning anklets, stone-studded necklaces, pendant sets, and stone-studded sandals.
How is Banarasi saree made?
With time and technology, the handlooms have changed to power-looms. Creating a regal Banarasi Saree remains a labor-intensive, time-consuming, intricate process. It begins with the dyeing of silk/ georgette yarns, followed by designing motifs by traditional artisans, and then weaving of Zari and fibers.
It takes at least three artisans working together on a power loom to create the Banarasi Silk Saree masterpiece. One artisan weaves the silk, the other dyes the silk, while the third engages the silk bundle, making the power ring.
The drawing of the Banarasi Silk Saree designs is made on graph paper, and then the pattern is imprinted on the punch-cards. The punch card manages the weaving procedure that guides the threads to form the charismatic Banarasi Silk Sarees’ intricate designs.
Depending on the design’s intricateness, it may take artisans anywhere between fifteen days to six months to create a single sari. Artisans may take almost a year to make an exclusive royal design.
What are the varieties of Banarasi Silk Sarees?
Many varieties of Banarasi Silk Sarees are available. Each of these varieties has distinctive decoration and design patterns rather than the raw materials used. These are Jangla, Tanchoi, Tissue, Butidar, Cutwork, Vaskat, and most importantly, Banarasi Silk Jamdani sarees.
Banarasi Silk Jamdani Sarees
Jamdani Sarees is the variation in which the finest muslin threads are used for brocade design. It is named after the beautiful floral patterns that are present on these sarees. The word Jamdani came from two Persian words, “Jam” meaning flower and “Dani,” meaning a vase or a container.
Jangla Sarees
Jangla styles of Banarasi silk sarees are woven in colorful silk threads. The word Jangla means “Jungle” as it has intricate design patterns in the form of Jangala vegetation motif that scrolls and spreads across the sari’s length. This variety of Banarasi Silk Sarees are one of the ancient ones. It does not have gold or zari work but has thick, closely woven brocade work.
Jangal work has its origins in Dhaka, and these are also known as Dhakai Sarees. The distinctive feature of Jangla sarees is heavy and highly intricate weaving. It has floral Jal Jangla design work all over, and embellishments of mena work to decorate the fabrics.
Jamawar Tanchoi Sarees
Jamawar Tanchoi Sarees have colorful extra-weft silk yarn for brocade work. Tanchoi work has its origin in Gujarat. The word Tanchoi is derived from “tan-chhai”, meaning a pattern which covers the field or the body. In Banarasi Sarees, Tanchoi is produced in zari decorated all over using different motifs and designs and not just Moghul motifs using extra weft layer to have the effect of embossing on silk.
The weavers use multiple color combinations or tone-on-tone colors in the jacquard weaving pattern to form the outline. The design is wholly stitched into the fabric with no loose threads at the back, giving it a complete finish.
Tanchoi variety has the characteristic feature of the paisley motif, often elaborated into a maze that would look kaleidoscopic. The Saree’s pallu is decorated with large motifs of paisleys, while the border has exquisite criss-cross patterns. These sarees have a fantastic weave and are incredibly lightweight and soft to drape
Tissue Sarees
Tissue Sarees lend a shining look to the saree due to the Zari brocade that makes the saree look like a glowing cloth. These Sarees use a combination of zari and silk. The glazed and radiant character of Tissue Saree is achieved by the use of Gold and Silver Zari with traditional ornamental designs. The weave of Tissue Saree has densely patterned with golden lotuses floating in a glimmering pond. The “water drops” are created by the cutwork technique. The borders and pallu have a diaper of diamond patterns with running paisley motifs. It is a go-to choice among the affluent class for a Wedding Saree.
Cutwork Sarees
Cutwork Sarees employ the cutwork technique by removing the extra threads that are not part of the weaving design. It produces a tremendous transparent look to the saree. Cutwork can be considered a cheaper version of the Jamdani variety. In cutwork, the pattern runs across selvage, letting it hang loosely between two motifs and cutting the extra-thread manually to give Jamdani effect to the saree.
Butidar sarees
Butidar Sarees are the dark blue silken saris, with brocade of silk, silver, and gold in a unique manner. These sarees are also referred to as Amru Brocade Saree. Due to the dark shade of gold and light shade of silver, this work is called Ganga and Jamuna sarees.
Various types of Butis (or Butas) form the design pattern using real gold and silver Jari and Katan silk in the weft. Based on the brocade design patterns on the saree, it could be further known as Angoor Bail, Luttar Bail, Khulta bail, Gojar Bail, Baluchar bail, Mehrab bail, Ashraffi Butti, Latiffa Butti, Doller butti, Reshem Butti, Kalma Butti, Patti Butti, Jhummar Butti, Lichhi Butti, Latiffa Butta, Jhari Butta, Kairy Kalanga, Thakka Anchal, Mehrab Anchal, Baluchar Butta.
How to identify the original Banarasi saree?
Well, identifying original Banarasi Saree may sound challenging. However, now you can do it easily with the help of a Geographical Indication tag. The GI tag is a government marker to protect customers and artisans and identify authentic Banarasi Silk Sarees.
The Banarasi silk industry was facing competition from the machine-made versions from factories that produce fake Banarasi Sarees faster. So, in 2009, the weaver association of Uttar Pradesh secured a copyright for the Banaras brocades and saris. According to this, Saree or brocade from outside the six identified districts (Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, and Vanarasi) will not be eligible for selling under the names of Banarasi Saree and silks.
Authentic and original Banarasi mainly have motifs such as floral patterns, stylized leaves, and jali work. Many artisans use copper alloy plated in silver and gold, with an increase in silver and gold prices. Beware of those fake saree work. An expert eye can easily recognize it.
How to wash and take care of Banarasi Silk Saree at home?
It would be best if you always dried clean a Banarasi Silk Saree. The detergents can damage the design work and spoil the look, grandeur, and glamour of Banarasi Silk Sarees. However, if you still choose to wash it at home, then ensure to dip it in cold water a few times before hanging it on the clothesline to drip-dry.
Additionally, you can store the Banarasi Silk Saree in a hanging position in your cupboard or wrap it in a muslin cloth and store it away from sunlight. To maintain the Banarasi Silk Saree’s glamorous look, you must ensure to change the folds now and then.
What is the price range of Banarasi Silk Saree?
Genuine Banarasi sare could have cost anything from Rs.2,000 to Rs.2,00,000 range based on the design and sophistication of Saree’s work. You can also check reliable online stores to get special deals and discounts on a decent Banarasi Silk Saree.