Varanasi Weavers

History of Varanasi

Varanasi - City of Colours, City of Light.

“Older than history,
older than tradition,
older even than legend,
and looks twice as old
as all of them put together.”
- Mark Twain

Venerated by kings, saints, sinners and paupers, all drawn to its crowded river banks, Varanasi has a long culture of art and devotion. It has been one of the focal seeds of Indian writing for years. There is a special fervour in the populace, and piety is a given attribute.

Visitors from all over the world come to this special place to catch a glimpse and feel of the holy city, where one can see yogis doing their asanas on the Ghats, get whiffs of sandalwood incense in the lanes, hear the tinkle of bells rung in pujas, and catch the sound of prayers and chants wafting over the golden waters of the river.

Weaving tradition

One of the oldest living cities in the world, for thousands of years Varanasi has been a sacred place in northern India. For more than 1,000 years this city has been home to the largest number of handloom weavers in India.
Past glory

Varanasi fabrics were once used to adorn the bodies of royalty and common people alike. These fabrics shine and stand out with their myriad colours, their intricate and bold designs, their unique aesthetic quality.

Varanasi weavers’ inspiration and philosophy is expressed well in the quote of Kabir, the 15th century poet and weaver from Varanasi, who said: “God Almighty is also a weaver…he weaves unique designs for everyone!”