| There is a tavern
in Kathmandu, Nepal, named "Banccharam." The
surprising thing about this cocktail lounge is that nowhere
is there a bottle of alcoholic beverage in sight. "Aristocratic
Nepalese etiquette and traditions forbid the display of
liquor bottles," advised the saloonkeeper. Stepping
into Banarasi Kuthi reminded me of that tavern.
"We do not believe in displaying
and flaunting our sarees. That just causes damage to
them. In our store, most of the sarees are cloistered
in special containers. Just let us know what kind of
saree you want. We will show you a multitude, one after
another. How many would you like to see? Our inventory
will impress you, trust me," said Manab Bhattacharya,
one of the four managing partners of Banarasi Kuthi.
The three other partners are his brothers -- Narendra,
Ramendra, and Rabindra. Banarasi Kuthi was established
by the Late Rajendra Bhattacharya. His four sons now
hold the reins of this establishment, along with its
rich traditions and reputation. "We have another
retail store across from Triangular Park on Rashbehari
Avenue," said Rabindra.
The distinctive freshness and vitality
of Banarasi Kuthi on 208/6 Rashbehari Avenue, stems
precisely from its allegiance to the vintage and the
classic. The common factors across most other saree
stores of Kolkata, however, are dazzling showcases and
overly opulent displays. Show all! Dazzle the viewer!
Keep nothing hidden! These are the shibboleths of contemporary
saree retailers. "We try to adhere to the very
traditional methodologies of saree retailing. Classical
rules of conduct are neither the most expeditious nor
are they instantly gratifying. But, those who have visited
us once at Banarasi Kuthi will surely know 'Old is Gold',"
suggested Manab. Then, as an afterthought, he added,
"For bridal Banarsis and wedding sarees, Bengalis
have forever preferred the traditional and the classical.
And for such kinds of sarees, they will keep coming
back to Banarasi Kuthi.
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Watch this!
See what a traditional Banarasi saree in Zari* looks like."
Manab brought out what looked like a box containing a
large scroll. From it, emerged an saree of awesome splendor.
Priced at Twenty Five Thousand Rupees!
The inner sanctums of Banarasi Kuthi
are like from a mediaeval fairy-tale. Emerging from
under the cover of dull containers were these pure and
kaleidoscopic hues of truly elitist sarees. What kind
of magic lies hidden in the next container? It was as
if each one of those containers kept hidden an enticing
and teasing charm of its own. Right before our eyes,
we saw the unfurling of jewel-like Jamebars, Kimkhabs
in gold threads, the beauty of Baluchari designs on
shimmering silk matrix, the purest of Koras and raw
silks, wanton Walkalams, breathtaking Bomkais, the glory
of Gadowals, inimitable Ikkats, and brilliant Balucharis.
How does one find a way to end a description
of something that is seemingly endless? From Varanasi
to Kumbhakonam, Mubarakpur to Kanchipuram and Pochampalli,
Putapakka, Chouthappal, Mysore -- all roads have found
a confluence in the mysterious containers of Banarasi
Kuthi. There are many kinds of enticement hidden in
those containers in the treasure chests of Banarasi
Kuthi. "Do you know what I think when I see all
these sarees?" asked Sanchita. "I wish there
was a wedding somewhere every day, to celebrate each
one of these sarees," she exclaimed. "See,
how beautiful this one is!"
* Threads dipped in gold,
silver and other lustrous metals; or material woven
from such thread.
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