Bleached-Sand Tussar Sari from Bengal with Kantha-Embroidered Marriage Procession

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Tussar is one of the signature silks produced in the subcontinent. Its inimitable cream ivory colour makes it easily distinguishable, not to mention its relatively rugged texture. The saree you see on this page is a tussar silk number handpicked from Bengal. The strip of uniform kantha embroidery running along the edge makes for a very narrow border, but the motifs jutting into the field of the saree give the illusion of a border that is seductively thick. Note the characteristic drape and fall of tussar. Zooming in on the solid-coloured field would give you a fair idea of the texture that this rudimentary endemic silk is all about.

It is the kantha embroidery that dominates the border and pallu that gives personality to this saree. Kantha is the term for fabrics finished with running stitches done by hand, a technique perfected by Bengali women seeking to recycle old fabrics lying around the house. As could be made out from this saree, it results in homogeneous embellishments that are rich in colour and texture. The motif chosen is of a wedding procession, stitched repetitively in rows along the fabric. This would be a great saree to wear to daytime gatherings such as on casual luncheons with family and shopping trips with friends.