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WHY SHOP FOR SAREES AT UTSAV?
- The largest variety by any stretch of the imagination.
- Absolutely and incredibly authentic stuff from master craftsmen.
- 'Exclusive' sarees that cannot be found anywhere else in the online market.
- Different varieties of sarees sourced from different states - all in one site.
- Every colour, every fabric, every kind of work, every style available.
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- RAKHI - Shopping at UTSAV
- The festival of Rakhi is coming this year on August 5, and UTSAV (www.utsavfashion.com) is geared up to help you find the right gift for your sister or brother.
- Rakhi is short for Raksha Bandhan meaning “bond of protection” in Hindi. The festival celebrates the close ties between brother and sister, and particularly the brother’s role in protecting his sister. During the festival, the sister ties a rakhi – a sacred thread – around her brother’s wrist. The brother responds with a gift and a promise to protect his sister. The finest Rakhis are made of silk with gold and silver embroidery and ornamented with semi-precious stones.
- Friendly ties
However, Rakhi can also be sent to friends and anyone with whom one has a close relationship. When a woman gives a man a Rakhi she is indicating her desire to have a friendly relationship. It may also be a polite way of indicating that she is not interested in a romantic relationship. Traditionally, when a woman sent a Rakhi to a man she was requesting protection from him as if he were her brother. - Rajput and Marathi queens were known to have sent Rakhis to Mughal emperors in times of distress. The emperor Humayan was said to have left the battlefield after receiving a Rakhi from Queen Karnavati of Chittor when she was attacked by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. In olden times too, Rakhis were often sent to arrange marriages between kingdoms.
- Rakhi is celebrated during the Full Moon of the month Sravana, an auspicious time known as the “Coconut Moon” in western India.
- According to tradition, Rakhi was practiced long ago by the sisters of the gods Indra and Yama. The festival is considered sacred to the sea god Varuna, and thus various ceremonies sacred to that deity including the coconut offering and water festivals coincide with the event.
- The tying of the rakhi is an auspicious event in which the whole family takes part. The sister and brother will traditionally feed each other sweets as part of the celebration. The sister will pray for the welfare of the brother, and the brother for the protection of this sister. Both will pray for the greater good in society. In different parts of the country, Rakhi is celebrated together with worship ceremonies that vary from one location to another.
- Finding gifts for Rakhi at UTSAV
UTSAV offers a vast range of gift choices for Rakhi, all available for online purchase. The convenience of the web store allows a brother in the United States to choose a Rakhi gift for his sister in India. The sister in India can also use UTSAV to send a Rakhi to her brother in America. - You can also find suitable gifts by searching through USTAV’s other online departments including Bags and Footwear, Accessories, Kids and Home Décor. If you really want to impress your sister, find a luxurious Rakhi gift from UTSAV’s jewelry collection that includes exclusive Indian necklaces, American diamonds, antique jewelry and gold bracelets.
- UTSAV is a fast and convenient way to find the perfect Rakhi gift online. You can also rest assured in the security of our website, which is protected by both SiteSafe and McAfee security solutions. Please visit us and have a happy Rakhi!
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- MAJOR CENTERS - Indonesia apparently took over from India and encouraged the art of batik. With its popularity and success in the western markets, batik became a part of Indonesia.
- The revival of batik in India began in the 20th century when it was introduced as a subject at the famous university of Shantiniketan in Calcutta. In the South near Madras, the well-known artist's village of Chola-Mandal is where batik gets an artistic touch. Batik that is produced in Madras is known for its original and vibrant designs.
- Indonesia however is considered the cradle of batik with its many designs, which are restricted for different wearers and occasions. Indonesian batik has characters of mystic and ritualistic connection. Objects like flowers, trees, birds have a significant meaning. The Sawat in Javanese batik has its origins in Hindu mythology, as it is the decorative form of Garuda, Lord Vishnu's bird. 'Sidomukti' is another Hindu influence in batik. 'Mukti' means happiness and prosperity in the Hindu mythology. While Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are known for their block printing (tjab) method to create batik on a large scale, in Sri Lanka batik is still made by hand. Sri Lankan batik is less intricate and more suited to modern times.
- Batik in Malaysia is a recent entrant as late as 1913. It has now become a prime economic earner for the country. Kelantan in western Malaysia is the home of Malaysian batik.Since it is a recently acquired art, it has no tradition to fall back on. In the western countries batik was introduced by the Dutch travelers from Indonesia. Batik is also practiced by some of the African countries like Nigeria.
- THE PROCESS INVOLVED - The creation of batik sarees is a three stage process of waxing, dyeing and de-waxing (removing the wax). There are also several sub-processes like preparing the cloth, tracing the designs, stretching the cloth on the frame, waxing the area of the cloth that does not need dyeing, preparing the dye, dipping the cloth in dye, boiling the cloth to remove wax and washing the cloth in soap.
- The characteristic effects of the batik are the fine cracks that appears in the wax, which allow small amounts of the dye to seep in. It is a feature not possible in any other form of printing. It is very important to achieve the right type of cracks or hairline detail for which the cloth must be crumpled correctly. This requires a lot of practice and patience.
- Knowing how to use the wax is of prime importance. The ideal mixture for batik wax is 30 per cent beeswax and 70 per cent paraffin wax. For first timers even the melted wax of a candle is adequate. It is the skillful cracking that is important. While applying, the wax should not be overheated or it will catch fire. Correct knowledge of colors is also important. Practicing on small pieces of cloth helps in the beginning. Patience is of course a very important factor too.
- The cloth used should be strong enough to bear the heat and wax. Cambric, poplin and voiles are used besides pure silk. Synthetic fabrics should be avoided. Since ancient times Indians have been known to wear vibrant colors and dyes which were made from barks of trees, leaves, flowers and minerals. Blue was obtained from indigo, while orange and red were from henna. Yellow was from turmeric and lilac and mauve from logwood. Black was created by burning iron in molasses and cochineal from insects.
- Since handmade batik is unable to meet with the consumer demands very often the answer is tjaping with a copper block. A tjap is a metal block made of copper strips into the required design after which it is stamped quickly and with great force.
- VARIOUS TYPES AND FORMS - Batik is created in several ways. In splash method the wax is splashed or poured onto the cloth. The screen-printing method involves a stencil. The hand painting one is by a Kalamkari pen. The scratch and starch resist are the other methods.
- From a handicraft, batik has acquired the status of an art. Batik is a versatile medium that can become an ideal hobby for an amateur or a medium of expression for an artist. Batik as an art form is quite spontaneous and one can open up new vistas of creative form. Until recently batik was made for dresses and tailored garments only but modern batik is livelier and brighter in the form of murals, wall hangings, paintings, household linen, and scarves.
- THE ART OF BATIK - Originating in India, the art of batik has come a long way from a mere handicraft. Today it is in the forefront t of the Indo-west fusion in the fashions of the world.
The word batik actually means ‘wax writing’ and that is basically what batik is all about. It is a way of decorating cloth by covering a part of it with a coat of wax and then dyeing the cloth. The waxed areas keeps its original colour and when the wax is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas makes the pattern. Batik was considered in the past as a fitting occupation for aristocratic ladies whose delicately painted designs based on bird and flower motifs were a sign of cultivation and refinement just as fine needlework was for European ladies of similar position. - Let’s say batik has come a long, long way from a mere handicraft of days gone by to a place on the fashion charts in India and all over the world.
Most Recent Customer Reviews 
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Lovely and attractive.By Nadiyaa from India on 7/28/20122011 12:05:29 PM
Bottom Line : Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Comments : Very beautiful saree. I really liked the net fabric and resham embroidery. THNK U
Simply amazing.By Padmini from Mexico on 7/26/20122011 1:33:13 PM
Bottom Line : Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Comments : Love this beautiful looking saree. It’s Very affordable and of great quality. Came just as I expected. will definitely purchase from this site again.
Superb Saree.By Cady from China on 7/23/20122011 10:58:10 AM
Bottom Line : Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Comments : Thanks Utsav for sending me a nice saree. It was lovely. Blouse fitting was perfect. Thank you to the utsav team.
Beautiful SareeBy Vippan from Mauritius on 7/27/20122011 12:13:56 AM
Bottom Line : Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Comments : Nice saree ..the colour is rare... the border is beautiful as well .