Northern Region

The saree or sari represents Indian culture in its correct form. This ancient garment embodies the woman's personality, who is graceful and elite. The saree works wonders for your personality as it can be draped in different styles that vary in color, print, design, texture, fabric, and many other elements.

A) Northern Region

States: Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, and Rajasthan

  1. Bandhani/ Lehariya of Rajasthan
  • Fabric material – Silk, cotton, chiffon, georgette.
  • Craft – Tie and dye or Bandhani.
  • Themes – ‘Lehariya’ means waves. Brightly coloured clothes are printed with complex wave patterns.

                          

                                 Figure 1: Lehariya chiffon saree

  1. Dabu/ Bagru/ Sanganeri prints of Rajasthan
  • Fabric material – Cotton, cotton-silk blend.
  • Craft – These are a mud resisting type of hand block printing using natural dyes. Sanganeri printing is done using a special technique called 'calico printing' where the outlines are first printed, then filled in and repeated in diagonal sections.
  • Themes – The motifs are picked from nature and surrounding elements. The common ones in Dabu are ‘Lal titri’, ‘Dholika’, ‘Kahma’ and ‘Kantedar’. Bagru print is a mix of geometric patterns and animal/bird motifs. Floral patterns of roses, lotuses, sunflowers, lilies and marigolds are common in Sanganeri print.

               

                        Figure 2: Dabu printed cotton saree

              

                     Figure 3: Bagru printed chanderi saree

               

                     Figure 4: Sanganeri print cotton saree

  1. Kota Doria of Rajasthan
  • Fabric material – Cotton, silk, cotton-silk blend.
  • Craft – Hand-woven fabric with fine open weave.
  • Themes – The chequered weave forms tiny squares called ‘Khats’. The range includes basic, block printed, embroidered and zari. The popular motifs used are mango, flowers with petals and leaves, checks, coin, leaf and many geometrical motifs.

               

                      Figure 5: Embroidered kota doria saree

  1. Kulluvi Pattu of Himachal Pradesh (similar is also worn in Uttarakhand)
  • Fabric material – Wool.
  • Craft – Hand-woven.
  • Themes – Bright colours and unique patterns that are inspired from the local fauna and flora.

                  

                          Figure 6: Kulluvi pattu design

  1. Pashmina of Jammu & Kashmir
  • Fabric material – Silk, wool.
  • Craft – Rich and intricate pattern weaving.
  • Themes – The iconic patterns include cluster of flowers, striped, chain, paisley design. It is believed to be one of the finest art forms.

                   
                        Figure 7: Pashmina weaving work saree

  1. Phulkari of Punjab
  • Fabric material – Cotton, silk.
  • Craft – Embroidery.
  • Themes – ‘Phulkari’ translates into ‘flower work’. Birds, animals, floral and leaf motifs are embroidered with horizontal, vertical, and diagonal stitches.

                    

                                      Figure 8: Phulkari saree

  1. Pichwai painting of Rajasthan
  • Fabric material – Cotton, cotton-silk blend.
  • Craft – Hand-painting using pigment.
  • Themes – The Pichwai paintings portray a variety of stories, including the life of Lord Krishna, Shrinathji (an incarnation of Lord Krishna), Vallabhacharya's family history, cows, lotuses and many other beautiful patterns from nature.

                     

                                 Figure 9: Pichwai painted saree

  1. Sozni of Jammu & Kashmir
  • Fabric material – Silk, wool.
  • Craft – Embroidery.
  • Themes – Intricate embroidery consisting floral, paisleys, and abstract geometrical motifs. Its intricacy can vary from 5 stitches per cm to 500 stiches per cm.

                   

                                     Figure 10: Sozni embroidery saree