“India’s Fabulous Fabrics”, Hinduism Today, March 31, 2024:
“Is there any other country in the world as colorful as Bharat? Bharatiya clothing is a visual explosion of vibrant and bright colors. I am always amazed by the tremendous variety of textiles and huge diversity of traditional outfits. All this is possible thanks to the knowledge of weaving mastered by millions of Bharatiyas for centuries. Let’s take a historical and geographical journey through Bharat to discover the nation’s weaving arts.
Ancient Knowledge
Silk saris are the quintessence of traditional women’s clothing in Bharat. The nicest saris often go from generation to generation as a family heritage. In the same way, secrets of weaving and the art of decorating silk and cotton are transmitted from masters to students. This helps explain why weaving became an intrinsic symbol of Bharatiya culture.
In Bharatiya history and Hindu myths, a few points can be highlighted. In ancient Veda texts several references are made to hiranya (cloth made out of gold), and in sacred literature it is said that the traditional sari from Madhya Pradesh was brought by Shishupal, Krishna’s cousin. The first evidence of weaving in the country dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which was active from 3300 to 1300 bce. The first weaving centers appeared in the 12th and 13th centuries to provide saris for royalty. Thus, the art of weaving is fully part of Bharatiya history and is deeply engraved in Bharatiya life and culture…..”
Read the full article at Hinduismtoday.com
