It is an ancient art of creating a model of a 'repeat' of motifs
or designs with the help of a bamboo needle over threads tied to a bamboo stick. This
craft was brought to India by a saint called Khwaja Bahauddin Bukhari from Bukhara in The
Republic of Uzbekistan. One type of Benaras Saree is the fine see-through gauze fabric
ornamented with gold and silver borders, butties and pallav. The other is the thicker
fabric, the 'kinkhab' originally designed by weavers in Gujarat and predominantly woven in
coloured silks. Weavers weave the most exquisite brocades in silk and gold on simple pit
looms. The designs are created by 'Naksha Bandhas' which are frames tied to the loom. At
times more than six shuttles are used to get multiple colours in the 'butas' or
ornamentation used on the body of the cloth.
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