Ilkal saris of Bagalkot are the highlight of the ongoing Sari Festival in the city After Mumbai and Chennai, the Sari Festival has reached Bengaluru. On its third day at 1 Shanthi Road, the festival is showcasing some rare six yards from across the country. From chanderis, kotas, paithanis, block prints, sari lovers of the city will find a treasure trove of drapes at the Sari Mela. And an under-represented weave from Karnataka is part of the exposition too. Himanshu Varma of Red Earth India, a Delhi-based arts organisation which curates the festival, says that though Bengaluru has a large number of sari wearers, very few wear handloom saris and that's why the ilkal sari from Bagalkot is not visible. "You won't find it in every store.
It is a daily wear sari and boasts amazing kasuti embroidery and a lovely drape. In Bengaluru you can find an ilkal priced as low as Rs.1,500 but we have some special ilkals which are priced at Rs.6,000 to 7,000." Known as the Sari Man of India, Himanshu also conducts sari walks in Delhi. A collector of saris, he says ilkal is a personal favourite and has a few ilkals in nine yards.
