Kanjeevaram Silk Sari: Tamil Nadu

• 29 Jul 2021

Why in News

National award winning artisan weaver, B Krishnamoorthy, has created a repository with samples of all the designs, patterns and motifs traditional to Kanjeevaram silk sari weaving, preserving fine pieces for next generation.

Key Points

• About Kanjeevaram Sarees:
  
  • Traditionally, the Kanjeevaram is a sari that is usually handwoven in mulberry silk and has pure gold or silver zari that renders it a festive quality.
    
    • Handloom silk saree is identified as the most luxurious and classy fabric in Indian traditional clothing.
  • Originating from the village ‘Kanchipuram’ in Tamil Nadu, Kanjeevaram is considered the queen of silk sarees.
  • The temple architecture of south India and especially around Kanchipuram has historically served as a mood board for design inspiration for the traditional Kanjeevaram motifs.
    
    • One can spot motifs such as the mythical creature called the Yali (an elephant-lion fusion), the Ganda Berunda (a two-headed majestic mythical bird) and the ubiquitous temple border called reku.
  • Tracing its long and rich history from the Chola Dynasty, Kanchipuram sarees today are considered as one of the oldest and rich legacies of the Indian textile industry.
  • Kanchipuram silk has also received Geographical indication (GI Tag) in 2005-06.
• Other GI tagged Sarees:
  
  • Tamil Nadu: Kandangi Saree, Thirubuvanam silk sarees, Kovai Kora Cotton Sarees
  • Uttar Pradesh: Banaras Brocade
  • Karnataka: Ilkal Saree, Molakalmuru Saree
  • Andhra Pradesh: Uppada Jamdani Sarees, Venkatagiri Sarees, Mangalagiri Saree
  • Kerala: Balaramapuram Sarees, Kasaragod Sarees, Kuthampully Sarees
  • Telangana: Gadwal Saree, Pochampally Ikat (logo)
  • Madhya Pradesh: Chanderi Saree, Maheshwar Sarees
  • Odisha: Orissa Ikat, Bomkai Saree, Habaspuri Saree
  • West Bengal: Santipore Saree, Baluchari Saree, Dhaniakhali Saree
  • Maharashtra: Paithani Sarees and Fabrics, Karvath Kati Sarees and Fabrics
  • Chhattisgarh: Champa Silk Saree
  • Gujarat: Surat Zari Craft, Patola Saree.
• Silk Production in India:
  
  • India is the second largest producer of silk in the world, producing around 18% of the world's total silk.
  • There are five major types of silk of commercial importance, obtained from different species of silkworms. These are Mulberry, Oak Tasar & Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.
    
    • Except mulberry, other non-mulberry varieties of silks are wild silks, known as vanya silks.
  • India has the unique distinction of producing all these commercial varieties of silk.
  • South India is the leading silk producing area of the country and is also known for its famous silk weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, Dharmavaram, Arni, etc.
  • The Government of India in 2017 launched a scheme called “Silk Samagra” for the development of sericulture in the country.

Source: TH