Exploring the History of West Bengal, Nadia’s Shantipuri Saree

Imagine yourself in a peaceful rural ambience, leaving behind the noise of the modern world, searching for the real gem of Bengal. 

If your heart also fills with nostalgia reading this, then ‘Shatipur’ is definitely a ‘must -visit’ destination for you. 

This place not only gives you ‘Shanti, ' which means peace, but also makes you feel overwhelmed by the sophisticated legacy of Bengal. 

Being a heritage lover, I understand what authenticity truly means. And trust me, the Shantipuri saree flawlessly resembles that.

Nadia district of West Bengal is the hub of this saree, which has been serving the Bengali girls to cover their curves since the late 19th century. 

Does luxury require heavy silks? Let’s break the myth with Shantipuri Saree

How does the saree look?

This fabric is nothing but a marvel of fineness. 

While weaving, the most ancient traditional method is followed to preserve the authenticity and the quality of the saree. High-volume cotton counts, like 100s to 150s, are taken to create a single design.

Generally, a stark white background contrasting with red and black borders is the ‘look and feel’ of a traditional Shantipuri. But in the modern market, instead of cotton, mulberry, and tussar silks are incorporated to add some modernism and trendiness to the saree.

The motifs and borders also got their upgradation with time, but the soul of the Shantipuri remains the same, simplistic and elegant. 

The identities of a Shantipuri Saree

The real magic of the saree remains in its joint, where the border gets attached to the saree. The weavers use a special technique called ‘Jalchuri’ to seamlessly attach the border to the saree.\

Thick and thin stripes are also woven to adorn the pallav or Pallu for giving the saree a decorative end.

But if I try to explain to you now, Shantipuri’s border variation, then definitely I have to write a dictionary on it.

Anshpar, the fish-scale motifs, Rajmahal, the diamond twill motifs, Benkiterch, Bold and zigzag style motifs, Chandmala, The moon shaped round motifs, Bhomra, the honey-comb motif, Nilambari, the midnight blue motif, and Ganga-Jamuna, the red-black border motifs are the most magical motifs that hold women’s hearts for centuries. 

The process of making a Shantipuri Saree

This saree-making process is also nothing but a dignified labour work. The whole family gets involved to create one single piece of saree. 

The woman handles the starching of the loom and winding bobbins. Whereas the men handle the bleaching and dying of the saree. 

At first, the designer sketches the pattern on the paper, then he transfers it to the saree using a graph paper. This method takes almost 10 hours to execute. Then peacock buta and other butas are handwoven on the surface of the fabric. 

Its designs are merely for decoration; they actually depict our evaluation like a distilled history of Bengal. 

FAQs 

1. What is the Shantipuri saree market called?

The Shantipuri Saree market is called the Shantipuri Saree haat.

2. What is the Shantipuri Saree price?

The Saree price starts from 3k and goes up to 20K based on the handloom work done upon the saree.

3. Where can you get the best shantipuri saree?

If you Google the phrase, ‘ Shantipuri saree online, you will get the best Shantipuri saree shop, Shantipuri saree market, Shantipuri saree manufacturer in the list, where you can get the best Shantipuri saree collections available.

4. When does the saree get the ‘Shantipuri saree GI Tag’

The Shantipuri saree got its GI tag in 2009 for producing the finest and lightest cotton saree in Nadia, West Bengal.