Leheriya saree, the fabric from Rajasthan, is considered the festive attire of Rajasthan

Have you seen Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Paheli’?

Where a Rajasthani ‘bindani’ Lachchci, a newlywed wife, was disheartened by her husband, Kishanlal’s, departure, immediately after the wedding,  for a five-year-long business trip. 

But after a few days of his leaving, a spirit came to Lachchi in the disguise of Kishanlal and started living with her. 

Apparently, he fell in love with Lachchi deeply. 

The whole story revolves around the context of Rajansthani, but what makes the whole storyline more fine is the vibrant leheriya fabric wrapped around the character’s body.

This is the essence of leheriya, where femininity depicts its own strength softly. 

History and evaluation of Leheriya fabric

Leheriya literally means ‘waves’. Rajanthani ladies love to let their pallu leher (waving in the air) of this saree during the rainy season. 

Dating back from 15th Century, the journey of leheriya started with a toddling walk.

Mohmmed bin Qasim, a wanderer from Multan, came to the court of Rao Jodha, Maharaja of Jodhpur, to present a chunri safa (the fabric used to wrap the head).

That fabric and the print were so exquisite that the royal family wouldn’t let him leave.

Later on, they invited his whole clan to Jodhpur, to make the blue city the hub of Leheriya manufacturing. 

Around the 18th century, the art shifted to Jaipur. The young artisans also started to learn from their ancestors how to preserve this ancient artistic knowledge within their community. 

Some specialities of Leheriya Fabric 

Mothra, the rolled fabric which is tied and dyed in one direction are one of the prominent designs of the leheriya.

Apart from this, Bhopal Shahi is also a kind of zigzag style design, named after the king of Udaipur, famous for the attire of gangoor festival. 

People often confuse the tie-dye of Rajasthan with that of its neighbor, Gujarat. While both share a lineage traced back to the Khatri Muslims of Sindh, 

But they have distinct personalities.

In Gujarat, the saree is adorned with Bandhani dots, while the leheriya waves are dyed in a wavy format. 

Previously in Rajasthan, a man’s fortune was determined by the colour of his leheriya turban. A simple one coloured or two colored turban is for the common folks, while the nine-coloured leheriya turban is for the rich royals of Rajasthan.

FAQs

1. What is a leheriya saree?

A specialised saree which is tied and dyed in the rajasthan with a special wavy pattern design is called leheriya.

2. What is the Lahariya technique a form of?

The Leheriya is a form of tie-dye technique. 

3. For which is the leheriya saree famous?

Leheriya saree with Gota patti and leheriya saree with border are famous. Moreover Rajasthani leheriya saree and the leheriya saree of Jaipur are famous nowadays. 

4. Leheriya, on which fabric is now very trendy?

Leheriya saree georgette and leheriya saree chiffon are very trendy these days. But the leheriya saree from Messho has next-level demand in the market.

5. Leheriya saree for wedding is a social media drift?

Yes, they are.  Leheriya print is a new drift of social media.

6. Which leheriya fabric is popular these days?

Leheriya Turban , leheriya Saree, leheriya Dupatta, leheriya suit, leheriya lehenga, leheriya kurti, leheriya Kurta. Any leheriya fabric is now very much in fashion