Tant Saree
Tant Saree can be described as a typical design of Bengal sarees that are used by women of West Bengal, India. Weaving cotton threads they are lightweight in the weight, but have some pureness. This kind of saree can be produced by weavers in West Bengal in India and in Bangladesh. Locations such as Murshidabad as well as Hooghly district in West Bengal and Tangail in Bangladesh are among the most popular areas for Tant Saree weaving.
In addition to Taant cotton sarees, there is an array of Bengal sarees that include Garad silk Dhakai Jamdanai Baluchari sarees Kantha stitch Fulia silk sarees, and Shantipur silk sarees made of cotton.
The Sarees can be purchased at a reasonable cost, having the price starting at 300 rupees (approximately. 300 (approx. US$5). Low cost, as well as the softness of Cotton fabric make this Saree ideal for everyday wear.
History
The Jamdani Tanth saree flourished during the Mughal period. It gained so much fame during the time of British period that British government attempted to reduce the production of it to preserve their industry of textiles. Following the dissolution of British administration in India numerous skilled weaver moved to Bangladesh as well as West Bengal with help from the British government. They continued weaving the sarees in this fashion which is still in use today. Tant Saris are among the most popular designs in Bengal sarees.
Present Day Scenario
In general the Tant Saree is available in pastel hues with stunning large borders. Flowers as well as Paisley designs are commonly used in the Tant Saree. The hand-painted and embroidered designs can be used to improve the beauty of the dresses. In spite of the introduction of new designs for sarees, such as Georgette Sarees or Net Sarees weaver of Tant sarees from Bengal have altered the patterns of the saree drapes maintaining the beauty and elegance of the Bengal handloomed sarees.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal has been a since the beginning of time an admirer of Tant Sarees. The Tant Sarees she wears are often purchased by Dhaniakhali within West Bengal.
Moving beyond the political context, Bollywood actresses wear Bengal cotton sarees on occasions such as Durga Puja. Bipasha Basu was seen wearing a Tant cotton sarees in the Bengali film 'Shob Charitro kalponik On contrary, Rani Mukherjee and Konkona Sen Sharma are famous for their stylish looks wearing Tant silk sarees made of cotton. Also, Soha Ali Khan has inherited her love of Tant cotton sarees through her mom Sharmila Tagore.
The Making
The weaving of Tant Sarees are made in towns like West Bengal, India and Bangladesh. The delicately woven cotton thread is weaved into the Tant Saree by expert craftsmen. The borders are made slightly thicker, which makes it more prone to being damaged. In the past, handlooms were utilized by weavers for the creation of the sarees. However, nowadays they are mostly substituted by power looms. The Tant Saree has a length of 6 meters but not 5.5 meters like the typical Saree length.
Maintenance
When cleaning the Tant Saree the second time needs to be washed in warm water and mixed by rock salt. This will ensure that there is less bleeding of color when washing it again. Additionally, after the application of Charak it will be as clean as fresh. For maximum longevity, mild detergent is recommended and the product should not dry under direct sunlight.