Baluchari (Bengali: বালুচরী) is a type of sari, a garment worn by women in Bangladesh and Indian States of West Bengal. Baluchari is known for depictions of scenes from Indian mythology and epics on the sari cloth. It originated in Murshidabad in West Bengal but presently Bishnupur and its surrounding areas of West Bengal are the only place where authentic Baluchari saris are produced.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century Baluchari was developed in a small village called Baluchar in Murshidabad district, from where it got its name. After a flood of the Ganga river and the subsequent submerging of the Baluchar village, the industry moved to Bishnupur. The specific art forms inspired by the temples of Bishnupur and the scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata depicted on their walls started to influence Baluchari weaving. During the Mughal and British eras they also often depicted scenes satirizing the decadent lifestyles of the Nawabs and officers of the East India Company.
The production process of one Baluchari takes up to one week to finish. The yarn is boiled in a solution of soda and soap and then dyed in acid colour, according to the requirement of the sari. The yarn is stretched from both the sides in opposite directions putting some force with both palms to make the yarn crisper. Making of the motifs for 'pallavs' and other part of Baluchari is in itself an intricate process. The design is drawn on a graph paper, it is coloured and punching is done using cards. After punching, these cards are sewed in order and fixed in the jacquard machine. After the jacquard loom has been introduced, the weaving of a Baluchari sari takes five to six days.
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