Background
Banaras silk sarees are an integral part of the Indian sartorial landscape. The historian have traced the handloom weaving tradition from 1500 to 2000 BC and located reference in Vedic and Buddhist literature. It seems it specialized in cotton weaving but made a switch to silk weaving in the 14th century.
Around this time, motifs also changed, bringing in a Persian mark. For last few centuries, it specializes in brocade weaving.
Zari brocade entails use of gold (meaning silver thread with gold polish) and silver threads- real or imitation-thrust either as special weft or warp to create glittering raised ornamentation.
The weave rich varieties of sari are: Jangla, Tanchoi, Vaskat, Cutwork, Tishu and Butidar.
Details –
Number of handlooms – 80.000
Number of weavers
Handloom products – silk brocade saree. tanchoi saree, stoles and scarf.
Cluster Accessibility –
Varanasi is well connected with Roadways, Railways and Airways.
Roadways – 2 km away from Bus stop.
Railways – 2 km away from Varanasi railway station.
Airways – 26 km away from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport.
Reference – http://handlooms.nic.in/User_Panel/UserView.aspx?TypeID=1242
