Bengali Brides in Red Dhakai Jamdani Saree

by - 18:10:00

Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree
Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree. Image: Google

Bengali brides and banarasi sarees (benaroshi) have been inseparable from time immemorial. When I was getting married more than a year back, I had only one option in my mind as well- a fiery red banarasi saree with all over “Jangla” zari work (Read HERE in “Bengalis and Benaroshi”). Even for my reception, my mother-in-law had gifted me a pink and green banarasi saree (Read HERE “What I finally wore for my reception). But as much as I love the regal look which Banarasi saree gives, I cannot deny the fact that it is only during winter that a bride can be comfortable in a heavy work banarasi saree since the original lightweight pure silk Banarasis are almost non-existent now and thick satin variants are the only option for people on budget. I realised I have totally ignored summer brides and it is time for some tips on choosing a different saree for your special day. If you are not fond of too much bling, heavy work sarees and like to keep it simple and comfortable on your wedding, then this post is for you!

So the idea of this post is to introduce another pride of Bengal as a bridal attire option- The Dhakai Jamdani saree. The Dhakai Jamdani Saree, as the name suggests, is a special type of handloom cotton saree woven in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Although the mention of Jamdani sarees has been made very early in history pages, the Jamdani culture (Persian word which means “Flower Vase”) is said to have flourished during the Mughal rule in India, declined during British rule due to cheap European yarn and then again raised its glory in Bengal (Present day Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree
Weaving of Dhakai Jamdani. Image: Google
Authentic Dhakai Jamdani saree are rightly called “The finest of muslins” and are painstakingly handwoven  in about 7 months to a year. The characteristic of Dhakai Jamdani sarees is a sheer base with floral or “bootidar” designs in an opaque thread. Finest cotton is used to create the sheer base and thicker cotton is used to create the design. Sometimes golden threads are used between wefts to create golden sheen in the sarees.
Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree
The sheer and opaque allure of Dhakai Jamdani. Image: RoopKatha

While many of you would raise an eyebrow wearing a “cotton” saree on your wedding, the original Dhakai Jamdani saree would be THE perfect choice for the summer bride! These sarees will let you breathe and you can experiment like crazy with the jewellery designs. Although a personal advice is: STAY AWAY from Kundan jewellery with a Dhakai Jamdani saree. This sarees are incomplete without gold jewellery (Read Bengali Bridal Jewellery details HERE)

Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree
Red Dhakai Jamdani Saree. Image: Indiaroots

Consider this saree. Now imagine a huge gold nose ring, an intricate gold Taira-tikli or only Tikli (Mathapatti-maangtika), a gold filigree short necklace and a long gold “Pushpo-haar” (A Bengali long necklace where small gold flowers are strung like a garland), big jhumkas or gold kaan-baala, Jasmine flowers in a low bun, and shakha-pola with baala and choor (Bengali Hand ornaments). Any bride would look resplendent in this attire and be as cool as a breeze during the whole event because of the soft and breathable nature of this saree. Please don’t forget to wear matching blouse with a red Dhakai Jamdani saree as contrast blouses kill the whole feel of a Dhakai. Also, as a bride complete your look with Aalta on your hands (Aalta or Mehendi? Read HERE), red teep (Bindi), kajal-ed eyes and a soft matte red lip. Yes, I am suggesting a red lipstick with a red jamdani because red on red looks great on a bride who does not immerse her face with glitters :P

Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree
Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree. Image: BengalLooms
An authentic Dhakai Jamdani saree costs anywhere between Rs.5000- Rs.10000 but there are cheaper variants with synthetic mixed threads are widely available across the market in prices as low as Rs.2500. I would strongly suggest to avoid those variants for the Big-Day because the difference in texture can be understood very well and there would be atleast two ladies in your guest list in those sarees :-/
Your best bet to buy Dhakai Jamdani sarees would obviously be in Dhaka itself, but major stores in Kolkata also stock up the authentic cotton Dhakai Jamdani sarees. Do your research before shelling out the money. The best part is you can re-wear these sarees whole throughout your lives :)

Bengali Bride in Dhakai Jamdani Saree
Red Dhakai Jamdani Saree. Image: Midraar

I wore a banarasi saree for my wedding (Read HERE) but if my wedding would have been in hot and sultry months, I would have definitely chosen a Dhakai Jamdani saree with intricate gold jewellery J What about you??

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2 comments

  1. Even I wanted to wear red benarasi with ghoti hata or 3 quarter ruffle deoa blouse and shonar gohono :)

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    Replies
    1. Same here. I got the ruffle sleeved blouse made too. But the tailor made it a disaster :( So had to settle for another blouse

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