This couple's nimble fingers have been at work for the last five months to produce a silk sari that can be folded into a matchbox, the lightest sari claimed to have been produced so far.
The success of their effort has given them confidence to weave a better one, which the couple plans to present American President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle when they visit India in the near future.
Light as air
“We want to present a scarf to Mr. Obama and a six-yard sari to his wife,” said G.R. Narayanappa, a silk weaver from Sunkadakatte, who worked his magic for this diaphanous sari along with wife Kamalamma.
The six-yard sari, 44 inches in width, weighs just 30 gm. “The sari is woven with two filaments in warp and one filament in weft, which makes it light,” Mr. Narayanappa said here on Thursday.
Along with the sari was a scarf, rich with zari work. This accessory, which is meant to be a gift for the stylish American President, also weighs 30 gm.
The couple worked on it for 20 days on the scarf, which has a gold zari border and a temple design in the centre.
Arrangements
“The Minister (Minister for Sericulture Venkataramanappa) has promised to make arrangements for me to present this gift,” said the 70-year-old Mr. Narayanappa, a national award-winning weaver.
“I'm doing this work on my own and no one asked me to do it.”
It was a proud moment for Kamalamma as she sat in the audience, when the lightest sari was unveiled at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath auditorium.
“I usually assist my husband in weaving,” said this 65-year-old, who, like her husband, comes from a weavers' family.
City weaver couple plans silken gifts
