Varanasi, the oldest city in the world, is known for its ghats, ancient temples, rooted cuisine and its famed Varanasi looms. Spell binding textiles that along with threads, gold, and silk, also have a myriad emotion woven into them.
Shanti Banaras, an acclaimed brand engaged in Varanasi hand looms, presents nine emotions that personify the real-life emotions, curating them into a collection of master-weaves titled: NAVRASA: Threads of fantasy. They promote tradition and culture by using homegrown textiles and age old-techniques of craftsmanship in designs. With this master weaves series, they launch their online entity: SHANTI BANARAS STUDIO that makes the designs available to a global audience of textile collectors. The brand works with design themes as varied as Kilms, Pichwai, Egyptian pharaohs, interpreting each theme into a collection of nine master weave designs.
Navarasa or the embodiment of nine human emotions through the performing arts is carefully listed in the 6th chapter of Bharata Muni’s ancient scripture ‘Natya Shashtra’. Since time immemorial it has elevated the bhavas (expressions) of classical dancers.
The sari inspired by bravery, for instance, has Devanagri and Egyptian scripts combined. The weave depicts spiritual knowledge and the strength of an empowered woman. The fear-inspired sari depicts a Mata ni Pachedi; each motif is retraced meticulously in a graph and has silver zari on it. The one on compassion has old Persian textile broaches and cuttings fused with oxidized zari woven in the sari…..each sari in its own way embodies the strong, beautiful and accomplished woman who wears a Shanti Banaras sari with great elan.
Shringaar – Beauty – Pichwai paintings
Hasya – Laughter – Optical illusions
Karuna – Compassion – Persian kilms
Veer – bravery – Scriptural in Egyptian transcript
Adbutha – Wonderment – Flora and fauna
Beebhatsya -disgust- Architectural motifs
Bhayanaka – fear- Mata –ni- Pachedu
Raudra – anger –Linear designs
Shantha– Peace Herring bone
