Kantha, A Traditional Embroidery Craft Primarily From Bengal
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is known for her attraction towards Indian textiles, gave the thumbs up to a blue-cream coloured Tussar silk saree with kantha handiwork. On the day of the Interim Budget on February 01, she stepped out in an elegant blue tussar silk saree with all-over fine kantha embroidery. Tussar silk is world-renowned for its distinctive texture and shimmery golden lustre. The coarse texture of Tussar silk adds an unmistakable dignity and gives it a particular character. The light blue saree had a distinctive border embroidery. Kantha is a traditional needlework technique from West Bengal, by extension from East India. This includes stitching together layers of old sarees or dhotis to create a quilt-like look. Simple running stitches in a variety of colours are used to create intricate patterns and motifs on saris. The ensemble lent a dignified and graceful look to the finance minister as all eyes were fixed on Nirmala Sitharaman as she shared the features of the Interim Budget with the country.
An Indian Handloom Loyalist
The finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has promoted Indian handloom sarees in a big way. Here’s looking back at her sartorial choices in the past budget sessions. A staunch supporter of traditional handlooms ever since she became the finance minister, Sitharaman has always opted to promote Indian handloom sarees when presenting the Union Budget in the past years. India is a rich treasure trove of Indian handlooms and it is heartening to see the leading lady of finance promoting the drapes in her own way.
We have seen the finance minister favouring a range of hues and tones. She seems to prefer silk drapes while presenting the Budget. Silk is considered a reverence for tradition and a symbol of auspicious new beginnings and is used extensively in all regions of the country.
In memorable instances of past Budget sessions, we have seen her in a traditional bright red temple – border silk saree with inlay motifs for presenting the Budget in 2023, and a Bomkai saree in a shade of brown in 2022. In 2021, it was a red and off-white Ponchampally saree, while in 2020, she draped an all-yellow and gold silk saree with an ultra-thin delicate blue border. In 2019, Sitharaman opted for a bright pink Mangalgiri saree complemented by a golden border.
Bengali