Why are Chanderi sarees called the arrogance of Madhya Pradesh? Know

The Vindhyachal ranges, the official divider of northern and southern India, are once famous for the Bhimbetka paintings. 

Apart from these prehistoric frescos, what makes these sun-bleached hills more interesting is their saree-making art. 

Very unexpected, right?

In such a dry, rocky region, where you wouldn’t expect to find any delicate art, how come it became the hub of Chanderi silk?

Here is the story. 

History claimed that once upon a time, Chanderi was the darling of the Scindia royals, a family from the Maratha dynasty who held major political dominations in central India. 

This glossy, yet subtle outlook of the saree makes it stand out from the mass-produced junk fabrics.

History and evaluation of Chanderi silk

Back in those days, cotton was woven by hand with 300 count of threads knitting together. It was so exquisite that during the 14th century, it became the prime rival of the Dhakai Muslin.

Then the British arrived. Their cheap Manchester imports behaved like a bull in our indigenous productions. Causing the death of our own craft.

But the Chanderi artisans are resilient enough to fight such tough conditions. In the 1930s, they pivoted again, introducing a mixture of Japanese silk into their main material. 

The hybridization of the Chanderi saree,  which we see today are born during that time.

Silk-by-silk and silk by cotton are intertwined in a complex format to establish the eccentric beauty of the saree.

Specialities of the Chanderi saree

To describe this fabric, you can say that it is synonymous with human patience. 

The synchronised labour of two people, for eight consecutive days at a stretch, is the minimum requirement to produce one Chanderi saree.

The base material of Chanderi is 20-denier silk. The significance of this silk is, it is so translucent that it seems like moonlight.

However, the real magic lies in its buttis. Asharfi (coin), Peacock, and floral motifs are done with so much precision on the fabric that it baffles the modern machines.

It is proven that, in powerloom sarees, buttis are added in such a way that they seem like a superficial addition to the 6 yards. 

But in the Chanderi handloom, the buttis remain sharp even after a thousand washes, and the buttis are attached strongly enough that they remain unperturbed when the wearer moves to the next world. 

FAQs

1. Which chanderi saree fabric is better?

Chanderi silk and chanderi cotton both have an equal demand in the market. Some chanderi lovers prefer cotton, and some prefer silk, so we can’t say which is better based on our judgment.   

2. Are Chanderi sarees online available? 

Yes, Chanderi is available online. But in case you want to buy the original Chanderi saree, then it's better to go to the authentic store.

3. Chanderi saree from which state?

Chanderi saree is from Madhya Pradesh. Even if you search on Google with the ‘Chanderi saree GI tag.’ Madhya Pradesh’s name will pop up on the first page of Google.

4. Chanderi saree famous in which state?

Madhya Pradesh is famous for the production of these sarees, but it is loved by almost all the states of India and also across borders. 

5 Is the Chanderi saree for women?

Yes, the Chanderi saree is for women, and the Chanderi saree is originally from MP.