Maheswari Sarees- A History that Should Be Explored
For centuries, Indian weavers have preferred to paint on sarees, especially in rural areas. In this nine yards of fabric, craftsmen all around the country have found an absolute freedom of expression. This, coupled with the presence of many centuries-old handloom textile traditions in India, could be why the country is home to some of the most original handloom fabric traditions worldwide. A very beautiful example of weaving is the Maheshwari sarees, which originates in the city of Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh district of Khargone. The town shares its famous Maheshwari heritage with its illustrious history.
Beginning and Background
Back in time, let's show you something. Maheshwar, a historic city located on the banks of the Narmada River, was the capital of the Malwa Sultanate from January 1818 to March 1819 during the reign of the Maratha Holkar king. Maheshwar also maintained a somewhat elevated status among the royal interests because of this. The royal family's encouragement made the Maheshwari saree possible.
According to the legend, Holkar's Rani Ahilya Bai had a team of specialists from Surat and Malwa sent to her palace in order to design a nine-yard sari that could be given as a gift to her visitors, friends and special guests. Maharani Maheshwari unveiled the first saree bearing her royal seal, and that eventually earned the Maharani Maheshwari range a large following in the upper crust of society. The rise of the Maheshwari sarees industry helped fuel the production of these graceful sarees, which soon became fashionable with women of all ages. This amazing textile is popular in both international and national markets.
Process of Weaving
The older pit looms, which are fixed and heavy, are used to weave handlooms in Maheshwar, whereas the newer frame looms, which are lightweight and flexible, are employed in this village. Popular now is the latter. Weaving by master weavers is most tiring and lengthy process of untangling and dyeing dyed yarn. When yarn is dyed, it is commonly distributed to weavers in bundles. When weft and warp threads are tangled, they must be untangled and stretched to make them snugger. After this process, the bundles are unwound, using a charkha, and formed into rolls. Big motorized charkhas are used in the event of warping, while small hand‐driven charkhas are used in the event of weaving. A different process with an octagonal cylindrical frame and hooks is used in the case of the warping of the silk threads. The colors and patterns in the fabric were created using natural dyes and zari, and kinari was used to make the weave more luxurious.
Gold or silver threads were also used in addition to finely-threaded gold or silver threads, as well as precious gemstones, to enrich the intricate patterns of the saree. Nylon-coated copper wires now replace the zari and other constraints limit the natural dyeing process. Despite the increase in the number of sarees produced, today Maheshwari fabric is mainly used for shirts, kurtas, stoles, dupattas, etc. This light and airy fabric is absolutely perfect for Indian weather, making it a very popular fabric to use.
However, Maheswari sarees are also popular among Indians and have large distributed offshores. If you are looking for a perfectly weaved beautiful sari and pair it with traditional jewelry, visit Banglar Saree now. We have a plethora of collections to satisfy your thirst. Nail your wedding look with an astonishing Maheswari Saree.
