The weavers of Varanasi are very welcoming. You walk through lane after narrow lane, colourful, empty streets where kids play and cows revel and you reach Lallapura, a craft cluster where sarees are stitched, crafted and designed.
Sahil, a weaver, eagerly takes us to his workshop where the noise of the machines is deafening but we are too busy watching the marvel of India's beloved sarees coming to life.
Stitch by stitch, by warp and weft, we see gold paisleys coming to be on a yellow saree and we can't contain our excitement. Miles away from where these sarees will end up one day, in these lanes of Varanasi, it is an enriching experience to see and learn how what we see in the market is created - with skill, care and finesse.
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"So many designs come to life here. Whatever designs are wanted, we make them happen," says Sahil's father, who has been in the business and the art for 16 years.
The revival of Indian handloom everywhere is cause for great celebration for the weavers of Varanasi. They are ecstatic that what used to once be considered a 'shaadi only' affair is now an every season demand - the increasing market for sarees and garments made in silk, khadi and other Indian fabrics means more employment for the weavers, the craftsmen, the embroiderers and so on.
"The trend has caused the sales to rise. This is great for us. We send our sarees all across India", says Sahil.
However, there sure needs to be a shift in what these workers make in a month. Surviving isn't the only thing anymore, especially with the kind of demand there is now. Weavers all across the country deserve more and the wheels have been set in motion for that to happen.
Sahil eagerly takes us through the process of how a saree is made. We watch mesmerised, as the delicate gold thread becomes a beautiful motif, a part of an outfit that someone somewhere will wear for a special occasion; it is almost poetic, watching art coming to life.
Watch the video here.
So the next time you head to Varanasi, don't forget to partake the experience yourself.
