Zoë Sheng

Chinese-Canadian - 06-Dec-18 -

Every Indian girl dreams about getting married in her Banarasi saree. As for me, I waltzed into a shop, threw money on the floor and demanded to get three blue and couple purple ones. No, just kidding. I bought one but not in a bitchy way.

When visiting Varanasi it is difficult not to see any saree shops or not to be offered to visit a saree shop. What is more difficult is to see the actual weaving of the saree. There does not seem to be any tourist spot to see. I had to ask a tuktuk driver to get me somewhere. Weaving shops are not very glamorous but appear very traditional. Often now replaced by automatic looms and factory made sarees, the small weaving shops are not having an essy time. Sure the shop keeper told me the sarees are made locally but how can I really be sure? I am unclear if the weaving culture is actually world heritage as it appears intangible. Or is the looms that should be preserved? Wine culture is often world heritage but so far none of the inscribed places are having a problem with lack of vineyards, and if they do they yes sure they are no longer works heritage. There are much, much fewer weavers today, and getting fewer every year. Even if inscribef this would need immediate protection. There are some weaver groups that try to survive together and there is surely always demand for it but not on the scale and with the history as before. I can't see it getting inscribed honestly.

Varanasi is somehow very popular with foreign tourists, I suppose because the distance to Agra means tours through India will come here. I cannot believe they are come for the buddhist site or the palace. Sure, Burmese groups do but I doubt they shop for sarees afterwards.

I wanted to post a picture of the worn saree but a) nobody wants to see me in a saree b) I didn't figure out how to wear it ... (maybe update in the future) and c) what you want a picture if the weaving loom instead?!!