On a hot summer afternoon, the thought of a juicy ripe mango or the thought of sitting under a shaded tree in courtyard brings back fond memories of a time when life was all about enjoying nature’s bounty. A lot of them found their way in Kanjeevaram sarees as motifs down the years. A prominent characteristic of a Kanjeevaram saree is the use of bold colours and a high degree of contrast. It also uses decorative zari, woven into the silk for a spectacle of opulence and grandeur. But something, that might not exactly catch your eye in the first instant are the myriad motifs that are embedded in it. They range from pretty paisleys, musical instruments to checks, peacocks, parrots and temples.

Sarangi, the saree store offers a wide variety of motifs and categorized under five broad categories – animals, birds, nature, patterns and inspiration. We would love to share details about some of these motifs.

 

Mango or Paisley: Pick a mango motif in a Kanjeevaram, whenever you are in doubt. This recurring design is reliable and traditional. Mango patterns with artistic floral designs in and around it, is world-famous and is known by many names across cultures such as Persian pickles, Welsh pears, twisted teardrop, or Paisley designs.

Checks: Another absolutely comman motif is the check. Be it in small or in bold avatar, the checks are always in vogue. They look wonderful spread across the entire body of the saree, irrespective of the colours. Kanjeevaram lovers, including actresses like Rekha and Vidya Balan, would vouch for the timelessness of checks and their impact.

Thilagam: Thilagam is a teardrop shape usually comes in a bindhi or pottu, that women wear on their forehead. This motif on a silk saree adds a dramatic beauty to it. On a deep, dark coloured saree, this pattern crisscrossing across the fabric will make it richly feminine.

Chakram: A Chakram (wheel) motif signifies myth, heritage and spirituality. Deities such as Lord Vishnu carry powerful chakra (disk) in one of his hands, and spiritually, chakras are energy points on which yogis meditate upon. This divine motif inspired from temple scriptures on wide borders, or on vibrant colours along the length of the saree, or flowing in dazzling fall of the pallu is a pattern to look out for!

Animals and Birds - Elephants, peacocks, yazhi (a majestic mythical beast that guards the entrances to the temple, looks like a lion with elephant tusks and has a serpent-tail) are popular motifs. From gentle animals to fierce beasts, the animals that meander across the borders of the saree, or along the pallu or the body, are resplendent. They can add an element of adventure to the wearer’s look.

Flowers and Leaves: This motif inspired straight from Mother Nature. The flower and leaf patterns are timeless and come in several artistic forms. Flowers symbolize a feminine beauty. And leaves are us, human beings, growing on branches, or on vines, creeping along the length of the fabric, in all its glory. They are woven to look either simply elegant across the body of a saree or shimmering along the pallu.

There are many more motifs available at Sarangi. You can check out their website and order online. They provide free delivery worldwide. 

Location: Sarangi – the Kanjivaram sari store, 138, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore