Kosa Saree: a sacred art of Chhattisgarh
Summer has already arrived. ‘Poila Baisakh shopping’ must have already started in bengali household.
As a hard-core resident of a tropical region, we shop before this time to prevent ourselves from the scorching sun.
Generally, pure cotton is our first preference, but if we see sarees or kurtas of kosa silk, we somehow can’t constraint ourselves from buying them.
That's the speciality of kosa, a lightweight silk that feels as comfortable as cotton.
The purpose of making this silk is that during the scorching summer, in the sun-drenched plains of Chhattisgarh, if a woman wants to drape herself in chill. Kosa is purely meant for them.
Centuries-old past and glamorous evaluation of the Kosa Saree
You can’t find the history of the Kosa saree in the dusty history books. If you want to know about it, then find a woman who is draped in it.
Approaching her can give you a lot of info about the saree. She will tell you about her family tree, then \\about how her great-grandma customised this’ exclusive collection for herself, and last but not least, how it came to her as a family lineage.
Kosha saree’s history mainly revolves around the Dewangan community. These sarees are woven by them as a symbol of pride in Chhattisgarh.
The making process of this saree is also nothing but a theatrical drama.
If you ask me why I am saying so?
Then just read below.
Generally, the silk is made out of the silkworms, which live on a diet of plucked leaves. But the speciality of Kosa silk is that it is made without killing the cocoon.
Doesn’t it sound like collecting the egg whites without harming the yolk?
Interesting facts about Kosa Saree
The silks are also harvested just like newborns are nurtured in a nursery.
When the larvae mature, the harvesters use to collect them gently from the leaves of the Arjun and the Saal tree.
After such delicate hard work, the results turn out amazing.
1 to 2 grams of raw silk yarn are able to produce 300 yards of silk threads one at a time.
The material is also sturdier, more textured, and pure matte in colour, which even the chemical labs are unable to accomplish such a colour code.
The weavers use natural dyes like Palash, Red pollen from the Rora flower, and rose flowers to hue the threads. Then the weaving begins.
In hubs like Champa, Korba, and Janjgir, the traditional weavers treat ‘silk weaving’ as the most sacred task. That's why till now the weaver touched the loom’s feet before starting the work
The 'Fera' and 'Jaala' patterns are the most prominent designs of Kosa saree, which try to capture a snippet of mythology within the saree.
FAQs
1. From where can you buy the best Kosa Silk?
If you search on Google by the phrase, “ Kosa saree Chattishgarh’, ‘Kosa saree Raipur’, and ‘Kosa saree Champa’, then automatically Google will suggest you the best places of Kosa silk near your place.\
2. What is Kosa silk Origin?
Chhattisgarh is considered the origin of Kosa silk.
3. What is the Kosa silk Price?
Generally, the price of a kosa saree starts from 2500 rupees and goes up to 10000 rupees.
4. Why is Kosa silk so expensive?
This silk is considered one of the most expensive silks due to its durability and fine quality.
5. Is Kosa silk really a silk?
It is made out of Antheraea mylitta, which is not considered the regular silkworm thatswhy many consider it as not authentic silk. But it is.