Sari's weave strands of Hindu-Muslim love in Rajasthan
Communal harmony surfaces in most parts of India in the most novel of ways.
Take the example of the Rajasthan village of Kaithoon, located 15 km from the town of Kota. Here, Muslim women weave saris for Hindu women, a tradition that has been maintained for several generations.
Kaithoon has hundreds of Muslim families engaged in spinning, dyeing and weaving of the exquisitely designed Kota Doria Saris, a drape patronised by millions of Hindu women across the country.
Every member of a Muslim family in this village has been engaged in the profession. However, with changing times, men are opting for alternate vocations, leaving their womenfolk to keep the tradition alive.
We teach it to daughters only. Sons can go out and work, but daughters have to remain at home. So, they learn to weave saris,
says Mobin Bano, a weaver.
Kota Doria
, a transparent muslin fabric woven with cotton and silk threads in an open weave, is ideal for the sweltering summers. While cotton lends substance and strength to the drape, silk imparts gauzy finish and sheen to the fabric.
With the price ranging between Rs.200 (4.56 dollars) to Rs.15, 000 (342 dollars), these drapes woo women from every strata of society, including office-going women.
These saris are very comfortable. They are very light as they are made of cotton. The sari doesn't slip and therefore is good for office use and we can carry it off well. Even if it's an old sari, starch makes it almost new. I really like wearing it,
says Pushpanjali Chandra, a customer.
The fabric is considered one of the finest weaves in the country. Weaving an entire length of the sari takes almost four to five days.
Almost every Muslim home in the locality has a handloom, which churns out these beautiful saris. But with a long chain of supply and procurement along with multiple buyers and middlemen, the weavers are not in pink of health financially.
Kota Doria offers unique patterns besides the traditional chequered designs woven in white and dyed in choicest of colours later. However, in the latest trends, the threads are dyed prior to weaving. These saris are so famous in Kota that they have a market exclusive meant for them.
For a week's weaving the artisans are paid hardly Rs.250 (5.70 dollars). The mass production from power looms established in past few years is also threatening the weavers. The poor weavers have sought government intervention to nurture the traditional art of weaving saris.
Sari's weave strands of Hindu-Muslim love in Rajasthan — newKerala.com