Athenian at 07:33, 20 April 2026

2026-04-20T07:33:28Z

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{{Short description|Traditional handwoven cotton sari of West Bengal}}
{{infobox Sharee
| name = '''Garad saree'''
| image = Gorod saree IMG 3358.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| country = {{flag|India}}
| state = [[West Bengal]]
| location = [[Mirzapur, Murshidabad|Mirzapur]]
| origin‌‌_place = [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]] and [[Birbhum district|Birbhum]], West Bengal
| origin‌‌_date =
| created_by =
| creation_date =
| ingredients = Silk
| cotton_thread_count = 90s–92s
| length = 5.50–6.50 m
| breadth = 1.20 m
| anchal =
| style of anchal =
| colour =
| style = Bengal tradition
| borders = {{convert|4|–|7|in|cm}}
| style of borders =
| usage = Festival
| variants =
| related_saree =
| manufacturer =
| distributor =
| gi_status = Registered
| file_no = 703
| website =
}}

'''''Garad saree''''' ({{langx|bn|গরদ শাড়ি}}) is a traditional handwoven [[Sari|saree]] (''sari'') of [[West Bengal]]. It is produced in [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]] and [[Birbhum district|Birbhum]] districts of West Bengal. Mrityunjay Sarkar, a weaver of [[Mirzapur, Murshidabad|Mirzapur]], is the inventor of this famous saree.<ref name="bartamanpatrika"/> This handloom saree is famous for the beautiful delicate designs on the ''anchal'' and "butti", the use of 100% pure silk in the weave and the saree fineness of the fabric. In 2024, Garad Saree received recognition as a Registered [[Geographical indication]].<ref name="ipindia">{{cite web |title=Application details of the Garad Saree – Geographical Indications |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/703 |publisher=Intellectual Property India |access-date=21 January 2024}}</ref>

This saree is traditionally woven on fly shuttle pit looms using 90-92S silk yarn and golden zari yarn. Plain border and ground, or additional warp J/C or ''jala'' designs on the border and ground are observed on sarees. In the past, the saree had no design on the border, body and ''aanchal'', and this saree was a symbol of holiness, purity and good shine. Even at present, [[Bengali Hindus|Bengali Hindu women]] wear this saree during [[Puja (Hinduism)|''puja''s]], especially during the ''Ashtami puja'' of [[Durga Puja]] and the ''Sindur khela'' on the day of ''Bishorjan''. The specialty of the Garad saree is that it is given a simple traditional ''Kha'i Māṛa'' or ''Khai Finish'' and finally folded into a special shape called ''pat''.<ref name="ipindia"/>

The weaving community of Raghunathganj and Murarai regions, make these sarees. As of 2024, more than 600 [[loom]]s are involved in Garad saree weaving in [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]] and [[Birbhum district|Birbhum]] districts of [[West Bengal]]. In the financial year 2018–19, Garad sarees with a value of {{INRConvert|149.6|m|year=2019}} crore were traded.<ref name="GI-1">{{cite web |title=703 – Form GI-1 – 08-09-2020 |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/ViewDocument |access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Eastern India Bengal Silk, 1740-1828 Economic.png|thumb|left|Centres of cloth weaving for export and of Bengal silk manufacture (1740–1828)]]
The silk industry of Murshidabad district is quite old, silk industry has been the main industry for the last three centuries. The district was famous for silk during the pre-British period. At that time, the main center of the silk industry was [[Cossimbazar]] in Murshidabad, where the company opened a factory around 1658 AD. Initially, factory operations were limited. Cossimbazar was the general silk market of [[Bengal]]; from here it was exported to a large part of Asia.<ref name="ipindia"/>

Garad weaving started in the late 19th century. This saree was first woven in [[Mirzapur, Murshidabad|Mirzapur]] in the present [[Murshidabad district]]. This famous cloth was invented by Mrutynjoy Sarkar, a weaver from Mirzapur. In the past this saree was a symbol of aristocracy. Saswankosekhar Gambhira, Monoranjan Posti, Shyam Sahana and Manindra Biro of Mirzapur won for their garad weaving skills in various competitions and exhibitions.<ref name="ipindia"/>

Politician [[Padmaja Naidu]] was the [[List of governors of West Bengal|Governor of West Bengal]] between 1956 and 1967, wearing only Shyam Sahana's woven Garad Saree. Since then, these sarees also became popular as "Padmaja" after the name of the former Governor of Bengal. Also, [[Indira Gandhi]], first woman [[List of prime ministers of India|Prime Minister of India]], regularly procured sarees from Mirzapur.<ref name="ipindia"/><ref name="bartamanpatrika">{{cite news |last1=Roy Chowdhury |first1=Bappaditya |title=আন্তর্জাতিক স্বীকৃতির লড়াইয়ে নামল বাংলার টাঙ্গাইল, কড়িয়াল, গরদ |url=https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=19&nID=253670&P=1 |access-date=1 March 2024 |work=Bartaman Patrika |date=9 October 2020 |language=bn |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301055820/https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=19&nID=253670&P=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Dhunuchi Dance - Lake View Road - Kolkata 2014-10-02 9162.JPG|Two women dressed in garad sari are performing ''Dhunuchi'' dance at Lake View Road of [[Kolkata]].
File:Aarti-dance-bangalore-2009.jpg|''Aarti'' dance is performed by women dressed in garad sari in [[Bangalore]].
File:Devi Baran on Vijayadashami.jpg|A woman dressed in garad sari ''devi baran'' (welcomes the goddess) on [[Vijayadashami#Eastern India|''Bijoya Dashomi'']].
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{Sari}}
{{Geographical indications in West Bengal}}
{{West Bengal}}

[[Category:Saris]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]

Garad saree - Revision history

Athenian at 07:33, 20 April 2026