Many takers for Banarasi sarees with ghat design
VARANASI: Kashi is famous for its sarees and ghats. The demand for such sarees that carry images of ghats on them has grown manifold of late as more weavers have begun to come up with concepts that blend the two.
President of ex-eastern UP exporters association Mukund Agarwal admitted that the demand for sarees with ghats on them has grown.
“Sarees with design of ghats and historic buildings in background are being made for a long time but the demand for them has grown over the last month or so,” Agarwal said.
People are all across the country, especially south, are placing orders for these designs, weavers said.
“It took me over a week to weave the images of ghats or the buildings on a saree. Now, with growing demand, I weave around four sarees each week,” said Irfan Babu, a master weaver who lives in Bunkar Colony.
“When we show these sarees with ghats on them to people, they appreciate it very much,”
Babu said.
“Sarees with design of ghats are quite popular among women because these give a traditional look,” said GI expert Dr Rajnikant.
According to traders, Banarasi cloth industry has annual turnover of over Rs 1000 crore.
As the demand for sarees with imagery of ghats woven on them has grown, there are many who have either begun to create them or plan to do so.
“I am also planning to start it too as sarees with design of ghats are in high demand,” said Saif Ansari, a master weaver.
Weavers admit that these sarees are in high demand in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in South India. “Many buyers from Maharashtra have placed orders for the Banarasi Sarees with ghats woven on them,” the weavers said.