Festive Season Beckons: 5 Traditional Sarees You Can’t Say No To!

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Autumn ushers in the festive season in the Indian subcontinent starting from Ganesh Chaturthi to Durga Puja, from Navaratri to Dussehra and Diwali. The deep-seated passion springs out in the form of larger than life celebrations. Amidst the cacophony of color, crowd and chaotic beauty the urban populace embraces its roots, a side that very seldom shows up in day-to-day life. As such sarees are quintessentially ethnic, be it the nine yard marathi specialty Lugade or the traditional red-white sarees exclusive to dashami.

This festive season indulge in some authentic hand made sarees, pamper yourself with the best of ethnic attire that goes easy on the wallet with with Tata Cliq Coupons. Enjoy the traditional you in the traditional garb! Spoiled by choices?
Worry not, we have compiled a list of traditional sarees just for this occasion.

1. Beginning the list with the country-wide famous, nay internationally famous Banarasi Sarees.

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Image Courtesy – shophiranya

Banarasi Saree or Banaras Brocade as the name suggests, traces its origin to the holy city of India, Varanasi.

Known for the rich and exquisite gold & silver embroidery brocade or zari, this silk saree is not only worn on festivals but also a fan favorite when it comes to wedding dresses. Complete with floral motifs, intricate patterns and engravings, this saree is relatively heavy. But we bet you can pull it off with absolute grace!

2. Kanjeevaram Saree is second on the list.

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Image Courtesy – C/N N/G/Flickr

If Northern India has Banarasi silk, South has Kanchipuram silk or Kanjeevaram as it is popularly known as. Made out of mulberry silk this South Indian specialty traces its origins way back. So much so that it has been featured in prominent paintings especially works of Raja Ravi Varma and the likes. This is the go-to saree for any special occasion or regular temple visits. Kanjeevaram can surely give Banarasi silk a run for its money, but hey this isn’t a competition right? Why not enjoy both.

3. For the next choice on the list we travel to Eastern India. Taant or Tant saree from West Bengal.

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Image Courtesy – behance.net

Unlike it’s banarasi counterpart this saree is lighter to carry and hence is favorable for all occasions. Growing up in a bengali household you’re bound to have heard a lot about how taant sarees are the best. Quite rightly so, very few attire let alone sarees can boast of being comfortable, exquisite and versatile at the same time. Artisans from Murshidabad, Hoogly, Nadia in West Bengal and Dhaka, Tangail from Bangladesh pride themselves on the elegant designs. Although this saree can be worn on all occasions, it holds place of special importance during Durga Puja and is as essential to the ritual as Dhunuchi Naach or the maddening dhak beats!

4. Next on the list of must-have and must-wear traditional sarees we visit Western India, with the famous Bandhani Sarees.

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Image Courtesy – Piyush Kumar/Flickr

These sarees get their name from the process of tying knots at specific places before dyeing the fabric. After the dyeing process the knots are opened which yields the desired pattern. Depending upon the pattern in the final product, they are classified into categories like khombhi, Ghar Chola, Chandrakhani and Shikari, among numerous others. Predominantly famous among Rajasthani and Gujarati folks, the major bandhani making centers are situated in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Sindh region. Vibrant and bright colors such as red, yellow, green and blue make bandhani sarees the most sought after sarees during festivals especially Navaratri.

5. Sambalpuri Sarees are a testament to the hardworking weavers who put their heart and soul into the craft.

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Image Courtesy – wikimedia.org

The intricate weaves or ikkat as they are called, are basically knots that are tied into the fabric during the tie-dye process. As a result the dye is absorbed leaving behind the desired patterns post dyeing and untying of the knots. Famous throughout the entire country, these sarees are predominantly produced in Odisha mainly in Sambalpur (hence the name ‘Sambalpuri’), Balangir and Boudh. These sarees are a marvel to look at and the effort put in by the craftsmen deserve applaud beyond compare.

These are some of the most ethnic, stylish, comfortable yet elegant sarees that you should definitely think about investing in, this festive season. Other sarees that deserve a definite mention in the list are Kota Doria or Jali, Konrad Saree, Kerela Sari, Pashmina Silk, Mysore Crepes, Baluchari, Kantha Sari, Dhakkai Jamdani, Nauvari, Chiffon and Georgette.

Are you a DIY fanatic? If yes, then we’ve got some great news for you.
Why not design your own saree according to your patterns and motifs! Learn how to design a plain saree at home. Have a great time making sarees and don’t forget to flaunt your ethnic side this festive season.

Image credits: The copyright for the images used in this article belong to their respective owners. Best known credits are given under the image. For changing the image credit or to get the image removed from Caleidoscope, please contact us.

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