Weaving in VaranasiVideo
Brocades of BenarasInterview
Zari Making in VaranasiInterview
Brocade Weaving in VaranasiImage Gallery
Zari of Varanasi Interview
Silk
Displaying 1 - 10 of 13
Two books on the life and times of Burma in the early 20th century talk about Burmese silk having been 'introduced from Assam and China at an early date along the Irrawaddy Valley'. Prof. B.N. Goswamy talks about how 'hundreds of these Muneepoorian captives were put to weaving' in Burma in the…
in Article
The Paithani, a pure silk saree with a zari of gold and silver traces its origin to the brocades of the Yadavas which were sourced from Paithan in Maharashtra. The Paithani saree is a much treasured heirloom of any Maharashtrian lady. Today, the Paithani is a dying art form due to its high…
in Video
As a wedding outfit for a bride and groom, furnishings in a king’s court or presidential suite, an offering for god or saint, in costumes for dolls, as an illustration of the intricacy of Indian textiles, or even as symbols of marital bliss or disappointment, the brocades of Banaras (Varanasi) find…
in Overview
Photographs
Sunrise, Assi Ghat, Varanasi
Naksha or design process: Naseem Ahmad at work
Graphed pattern for making jala, Shahjahan Ansari's workshop, Varanasi
Digitally produced design, Shahjahan Ansari's workshop, Varanasi
Pattern drawn on mica sheet, Naseem Ahmad's workshop,…
in Video
Overviews of history, materials and techniques (grouped thematically and by date)
Web-page on Banarasi Saree on the official website of Varanasi district
Web-page on Varanasi Saris, National Centre for Textile Design, Office of the Development Commissioner for…
in Article
A characteristic feature of the traditional brocades of Varanasi is the use of gold or silver zari along with coloured silks to create various motifs. The zari used for weaving is of a special kind and has been produced in Varanasi for centuries.
in Interview
In Varanasi, before the advent of jacquard looms, weaving was done on jala looms. A ‘jala’ is a kind of frame on which the design is first created using threads by nakshabands (pattern-makers). This is attached to the loom as a master harness. Some master weavers still use the…
in Interview
The use of gold and silver zari is a characteristic feature of the brocades of Varanasi. Shyam Sunder Jaiswal of Vishwanath Prasad Zari Manufacturers, Varanasi, talks about the history, techniques and usage of zari (traditional gold and silver thread) in brocade weaving.
in Interview