If you're puzzled, don't bother trying to figure out the name of that one unstitched Indian garment. It is, but of course, the national attire of India, the saree. Right from the time childhood days, an Indian woman has had this fascination for elegant sarees. Even at the ripe old age of 70, she continues to be drawn to this bright and cheery garment.
Traditional Maheshwari sarees originated from Madhya Pradesh. They have a unique lineage dating back to the reign of legendary queen Ahilya Bai. She is the one who designed the first saree.
Sarees initially made for royalty are now widely available in both domestic and international markets, despite their royal origins.
In India, women's sarees are the most fashionable clothing option. A saree, according to Indians, represents refinement and ethnicity and is an important aspect of Indian tradition. Thousands of women around the world have embraced this style because it preserves feminine grace while also enhancing the beauty of the wearer.
We typically define a saree as a long, unstitched piece of cloth. You can drape over the body in a variety of ways, ranging from four to nine metres, depending on the province. As Indian culture is diverse, the saree-wearing style varies from region to region.
You can wear sarees in a variety of ways, but the most typical method is to wrap them around the waist. A blouse and a petticoat are required to complete the Indian saree. We know the garment that covers the upper portion of the body as a choli or ravika. The Indian Saree has its origins in a wide range of ancient Indian garments made of cotton and silk.
History of Traditional Maheshwari Saree
Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district is home to Maheshwar, a city that produces the Maheshwari saree. Silk thread is used to weave the saree. Saree-making has an interesting twist: The Hindu group makes all of its own yarn while Muslim women weave it. It is via this process that the two communities are brought together.
Legend has it that Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar hired a special team of artisans from Surat and Malwa to construct an exceptional nine-yard saree. That could be given to her family and guests who came to visit the palace. First fashioned by Her Highness herself, Traditional Maheshwari Sarees quickly became a favourite of the royal and aristocratic society.
The weavers, traditionally, embellished the saree with gold or silver threads and gemstones. Natural colouring is no longer possible since copper-coated nylon wires have replaced zari and manufacturing time limitations have made it impossible.
These sarees are popular with women because of their shiny lustre and lightweight. Traditional Maheshwari sarees, which were only available in silk, are now composed of cotton, silk cotton, and even wool. This light and airy fabric retain the smooth shine of silk thanks to fine cotton threads in the weft and silk in the warp. For traditional Maheshwari designs, the pallu (edge) are in vivid colours, like magenta and pink. Pallu is the most eye-catching portion of the saree.
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Women of Maharashtra wore these traditional sarees with the front portion flaunting while they tucked the back portion in. Cotton and silk are the most common materials used to make Maheshwari sarees. The body of the saree is plain or has stripes or checks. The plain sarees are called Chandrakala and baingani Chandrakala, which are woven with blackish violet wrap and chocolate weft. With its 'Bugdi,' or reversible borders, the saree is suitable for both men and women.
With five stripes of three colours and two white colours, the pallu of traditional Maheshwari silk sarees is also unique. Now, beautiful Indian sarees can be found in both natural and synthetic silk varieties. It is common for the sarees to feature gold borders, as well as two gold bands on the pallu. But, the traditional sarees decorated with gold chicks, lotuses, and rounded edges are extremely expensive.
Queen Ahilya Bai founded the town of Maheswar. The figurines on the walls of her citadel and the places of worship inspired the ethnic and sophisticated patterns of the Maheshwari silk saree. Maheshwari sarees of recent times still feature these designs. The saree is made of pure silk, which has a unique sheen and is extremely comfortable to wear. Patterns and borders are decorated with golden threads or zari works.
The temples and palaces of Maheshwar are the sources of the motifs' designs. To meet the changing needs of the market, the traditional Maheshwari silk sarees are now available in a wider range of colours. Grape green, magenta, deep mauve-pink, deep pink, golden brown, peach and many more colours are utilised in the Maheshwari saree. They come in a wide variety of designs, including bel phool, aam buta, ambi butti and chand tara. Women no longer have to work too hard to look fashionable and up to date at a party when they can simply drape a Maheswari silk saree over their shoulders.
As angoori, gul, dalimbi, rani, etc. in the original language relate to the fabric's colours and hues. Maheshwari silk sarees are further distinguished by the use of zari and kinari embroidery. It's evident in the blouse piece as well.
Sarees are made by women from the Maru group of Maharashtra who are primarily Hindu weavers. Silk from China, zari from Surat, and some German zari were used by the weavers in the creation of this piece.
Kalakari India is the only location where you can find a broad variety of inexpensive Maheswari silk sarees. Our online store carries a wide variety of Maheswari Silk Sarees, including plain buti motifs, zari-bordered sarees, and cotton-silk sarees. The saree of your choice is only a few feet away. Right now, select a button and buy anything that piques your interest and order from Kalakari India.