Traditional motifs seen on sarees at exhibition

Traditional motifs of peacocks, parrots and the tree of life are now again making an appearance on Orissa's highly sought after Bomkai sarees, which typically sport nature and tribal inspired motifs
Woven on a pit loom the handwoven Bomkai sarees is part of the three-day "Sarees of India 2015 - Innovating Tradition" sale organised by the Delhi Crafts Council which began here today.
The exhibition which is aptly timed around the festive season is drawing a lot of crowd with wide range of weavers and designers displaying their collection at the Aga Khan Hall.
"This year we are presenting the collections of 21 participants working with different Indian weaves and printing techniques. India has a rich diversity of these techniques and it is our endeavor to bring these exciting developments before the discerning audience of Delhi," Purnima Rai, President, Delhi Crafts Council, said.

The exhibition was inaugurated by BJP MP and actor Kirron Kher, who confessed her love for handloom sarees and has been fighting to stop the repeal of the Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985, which has been protecting traditional handloom weaves, especially sarees, from being copied by machine-made and powerloom competitors.
"They are not going to repeal the handloom reservation act act that is what the ministry has told me. The powerloom industry is actually copying the handloom products even though they are not allowed to do it. But still people are buying the copies. I think we need to strictly enforce the Handloom reservation act," Kher said.

The annual exhibition focuses on highlighting innovative new techniques and designs that infuse new life into traditional weaves and prints. Sarees in interesting textures and new techniques, bright and bold hues are up for grabs at the exhibition.

"Naturally Anuradha" is the brand established by Anuradha Kuli,a weaver from Assam who has been responsible for reviving the old traditional motifs of the missing tribe in natural dyes.
"Traditional Assamese motifs which are beautiful have also been revived in an innovative way by a woman weaver from Assam. She has designed the traditional motifs in an innovative way, a little away of the tradition but yet keeping a touch with the roots," Rai said.

Other sarees such as the Aavaran from Udaipur has created a range of prints entirely in natural indigo, Jyothi Reddy whose innovative Ikat sarees in Eri Silk are subtle and intricate and Abdul Rahim Khatri with gorgeous vegetable dyed Ajrakh sarees.