Shikargah Banarasi in Forest Ivory

Shikargah — literally 'hunting ground' — is the Mughal-court Banarasi that turns the pallu into a tapestry. Leopards leap between mango trees, deer pause at a stream, courtiers ride elephants, all woven thread-by-thread on a pit loom in pure silver-gilt zari. The ground is ivory katan with a fine all-over butidaar, so the pallu carries the spectacle without competition. A saree to be worn once a season and to outlive the bride.

Zari

Silver gilded with 22kt gold, kadhua

Motif

Hunting scene pallu, ivory butidaar ground

Weave time

~120 days

Occasion

Bridal reception, second-day muhurtam, heritage editorial.