Why hand woven cotton sarees of Bengal a hot item among the Women?

Since the earliest days of Indian history, sarees have defined the identity and looks of women in India. This simple garment has had a major impact in the social evolution and culture of India. Over the years, different types of saree styles have evolved and this has certainly provided women in this country with more options to look good. In fact, every state and region has contributed in their own way to expand the wardrobe of women in India. The various states and regions have come up with unique types of sarees over the years that bear the characteristic imprint of their cultural identity.

One of the leading centers for saree manufacturing in India is certainly the state of Bengal. For hundreds of years, women in this part of India have worn hand woven cotton sarees that not only allow them to express their beauty and charm but also keep them comfortable all throughout the day. Made from fine quality cotton fabrics, the sarees also aptly express the ideas and beliefs held in the cultural landscape of Bengal. The reason why most women in Bengal choose to wear these hand woven cotton sarees is that they are ideal for the hot and humid climate of this part of India. Women often need to move from one place to another and perform various day to day tasks. The cotton sarees keep them cool and comfortable for extended hours and allow them to be themselves.

Bengal Traditional Cotton Sarees Online

The artisans and craftsmen of Bengal are truly gifted in their abilities to create such wonderful pieces of garments. These professionals painstakingly weave these sarees over long working hours while at the same time make sure that they carry the finest design elements. Such superior craftsmanship help to make sure that all of the hand woven cotton sarees come with the same level of elegance and richness. It is therefore no surprise that both working women as well as housewives love to wear cotton sarees that are made in Bengal. The unique beauty and simplicity of these sarees make them just perfect for all occasions. Whether it is for a special occasion like a wedding, a party or for day to day usage, the hand woven cotton sarees makes up for the most comfortable garments. Due to this reason, women in Bengal love to indulge in wearing these sarees at all times.

While at one point of time these sarees were mostly worn by women in Bengal, nowadays buyers from all over the country love to wear them for various occasions. In fact, most lovers of elegant sarees love to have at least a few hand woven cotton sarees from Bengal in her wardrobe. Many of these sarees come with special embellishments that make them even more gorgeous. With the market for these sarees expanding in the recent times, the artisans and craftsmen of Bengal now have even more resources to create superior quality hand woven cotton sarees. This has simply made it possible for women in this country to get better quality products that would help them to experiment with their looks.

Nowadays there are numerous online shopping sites that offer a fine collection of these Bengal hand woven cotton sarees for their buyers all over the country. There are also those sites that allow women living in other parts of the world to buy these garments from the comfort of their own homes. The online stores have also played a pivotal role in popularizing these sarees to a wider audience. Not only it has greatly helped the saree manufacturing business but enabled more women to try on these sarees and look great. 

An Overview of Maharashtrian Wedding Sarees

Weddings are special. And if it’s an Indian wedding, it is bound to be a grand affair. The colourful set-up is all about Hindu traditions, celebrations that are no less than carnivals, bold and bright colour dressed guests, bride and the groom and finally, rituals that get them married. In a multi-cultural country like India, each part celebrates this holy ritual differently. Based on the culture, the rituals differ, the dresses differ and so does the set-up of the vivah (Hindi for Indian weddings).

A Maharashtrian wedding, is a completely traditional one that is simple as well as vibrant. The traditions of a Maharashtrian wedding is as per the Maharashtrian community, their religious and family values. Each member in a Maharashtrian family has a role to play in the entire ceremony. Maharashtrians, as a traditional ritual adhering community, believe in following the common ceremonies such as Mehendi, Milni, Jaimala, Saptapadi, Kanyadaan and pheras. In all these rituals, one of the most significant things is a bride’s saree or the traditional Maharashtrian wedding sarees.

Typically, for a Maharashtrian bride, the wedding sarees are of traditional golden orange, or a yellow marigold coloured saree. The other common coloured wedding sarees that brides are found to be wearing include gold, green and yellow. These Maharashtrian wedding sarees are of six yards (standard) or a nine yard saree. The colour of the bride’s saree makes it easier for people to recognise the community.

Traditional Six yards cotton saree of Maharashtra

Paithani sarees, originating from the city of Paitan, are one of the typical and traditional types of Maharashtrian wedding sarees. These are made of gold and are of the silk variety. These kinds of sarees have different patterns, mostly in the oblique-square designs mainly on the borders. The saree can be found to be having motifs in the form of peacocks, kaleidoscopes and parrots in the end of the saree, better known as pallu of the saree. These kinds of sarees are available either in one colour or two colours with broad golden borders. These silk sarees are hand weaved and takes at least a month to complete.

In the earlier times, Maharashtrian brides were known to wear the Nauvari sarees. The design of the nauvari sarees is unique It has a trouser-like design as the nine yard saree is designed to be wrapped around each leg. This would give a trouser like design instead of the full length skirt design that is usually associated with a saree. Nauvari sarees are believed to be more comfortable to wear since these can be worn without a petticoat.

Like any other Indian brides, a Maharashtrian bride also wears traditional gold jewelleries. Some of these can be the statement pieces, heirloom jewelleries or simply, some new designs. Jewelleries like the one choker style necklace made of gold known as Thushi is an essential item alongside the jhumkas (earrings), nath (mango shaped nose ring) and the bajuband or the armlet. Many of the brides also wear the green and gold bangles in both the hands and the half-moon shaped bindi on the forehead. Most of the bride’s jewelleries are gifted to her by the elders, especially the parents or the elders in the family who save money to buy gold for the marriage of the daughter. Since the Maharashtrian wedding sarees have a traditional feel, the gold jewelleries make real good adornments with them.

Any Indian Hindu wedding is nothing less than a grand celebration of rituals and relationships. Usually celebrated for close to three days, the brides get to wear different types of sarees depending on the occasions and the requirements. For the Maharashtrian brides, they can choose to wear the different kinds of traditional Maharashtrian sarees during each occasion and the traditional Maharashtrian wedding sarees on the big day.