What is Baluchari ?
Baluchari used to be practised two hundred years ago in a small village called Baluchar in Murshidabad district, from where it got the name Baluchari. This particular type of sari originated in Bengal and is known for depictions of mythological scenes on the pallu of the sari. Mythological stories taken from the walls of temples are woven on Baluchari sarees.. It is mainly produced in Murshidabad (a district in West Bengal). The specialty is the large pallu, with a large pattern radiating from the centre. The body of the saree carries zari buttas. Meenakari type balucharis has threads in 1-2 colours along with attractive Meenakari work in another colour that further brightens the pattern. Swarnachari (Baluchari in gold) is the most gorgeous balucharis that are woven with gold coloured threads (sometimes interspersed with a bit of silver) that illuminate the patterns to a much larger extent.