Ever since I became a part of some saree groups in 2016, I have been fascinated with the Garad Korial saree. My friend Vidya got one for herself but she said it was paper like and the rustling was really bad. When she washed it, it became worse for the wear. Once I got connected with Lakshmi and her online store Kalpavastram, I knew she will source a beautiful Garad saree for me.
Finally on Sept 14, 2021 Lakshmi pinged me saying she had a pure silk Garad Korial and whether I wanted it. My answer was ofcourse YES ! Once I received the saree, I just kept looking at it because the sheen of the pure silk was mesmerizing. Then the off white and red combination is just stunning. Here is the pic that Lakshmi shared with me –
About the Garad Korial Saree
The history of Garad Korial sarees can be traced to ancient times when they were traditionally worn by Bengali women on special occasions such as weddings, festivals, and religious ceremonies. “Garad” refers to the natural off-white or cream color of the silk used in these sarees.
Garad Korial sarees are typically woven on a throw-shuttle pit loom using the Korial weaving technique. This technique involves interlacing end yarns, a unique way of joining the border and pallu to the body of the saree. The process is time-consuming and requires additional manpower, which is why these sarees are highly valued.
The weavers often use extra-weft silk for the naksha motifs, which are woven using separate small shuttles for each motif, making each saree unique. Anyway every handwoven saree is unique !!
My Garad Korial has the Ambi motif or the Mango motif, aka the paisley pattern. The Ambi motif is usually woven using extra-weft silk, which gives it a slight raised texture that stands out against the delicate silk background.
I wore this beauty for the first time on Feb 2 at Tirumala and received Balaji’s blessings in this saree. Couldn’t take any pics that day courtesy my meltdown :):).
I wore it again a few days earlier at Kothagiri and took enough pictures to feel happy.
This is truly a beautiful saree. Do buy one even if you are not a Bengali. Am hoping to wear it during Durga Puja this year as is the tradition. For buying beautiful sarees do visit – Kalpavastram.com. Lakshmi curates some of the most stunning collections ever.
Lakshmi, Thank you for this beauty. Will cherish it for many many years.