Date:04/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/04/stories/2008100450770200.htm

New Delhi

Now silk saris for revival of tradition

J. Venkatesan

Kanimozhi at exhibition.

NEW DELHI: The 10-day Tamil Nadu Silk Saris Exhibition was inaugurated at the old Tamil Nadu House in Chanakyapuri here by MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in the presence of Tamil Nadu Handlooms Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran on Thursday.

While Ms. Kanimozhi released “Puthinam,” a new silk sari collection, the Minister released a woven silk portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. Tamil Nadu’s Special Representative in Delhi Cumbum P. Selvendran launched the first sale. The exhibition is open up to October 12.

According to M.P. Nirmala, Special Officer and Managing Director of Co-optex, “Puthinam” is a collection of silk saris with specific focus on revival of traditional designs. To enhance the value of the Kancheepuram silk sari, extra surface ornamentation has been made and these saris are being introduced at this exhibition for test-marketing.

One remarkable offering is the “lighting sari.” While doing surface ornamentation, mini-bulbs are embedded in the design itself and by attaching a small battery the lights glow and also play music at times. In “ahimsa saris,” silk is used from cocoons from which the insects have flown out. In the “Tirukkural sari,” all 1,330 Tirukkural couplets have been woven into the portrait of poet Thiruvalluvar.