Types of Paithani Sarees: Understanding the Variations

A saree is every woman’s favourite attire because it can be worn for almost any occasion. The best part about sarees is their versatility; you can drape them in various styles, and with the vast collection available, you will rarely run out of options. Sarees cater to every culture from North to South and East to West. Today, let’s shift our focus to the exquisite Paithani saree.

Every Maharashtrian bride dreams of wearing a Paithani on her wedding day, but this beautiful drape is not limited to brides alone. Paithani sarees are perfect for weddings, festivities, and auspicious occasions. What sets Paithani sarees apart is their nearly identical appearance on both sides and their radiant shine, thanks to the pure silk and high-quality zari used in their crafting.

There is an array of Paithani sarees to choose from. To negate your confusion, let’s delve into the different types.

Bangdi mor Paithani

Just like the name suggests, this type of Paithani features beautiful peacock or mor designs with the essential jewellery element: the bangdi or bangles. The design comes together to form a peacock woven in the shape of a bangle. These sarees feature four peacocks inside a bangle, and the golden border features the temple’s design. It is extremely pretty!

Ekdhoti weave Paithani

A single shuttle is used to weave the weft for this Paithani saree. This type features a Narali border and simple butti designs such as peas or coins. 

Brocade Paithani

Brocade is one of the richest fabrics and should be worn during festivities to highlight the glam effect. Unlike embroidery, brocade patterns are woven into the fabric, like the Banarasi sarees. These Paithani sarees feature classic brocade patterns woven all over the fabric, apart from the golden border.

Munia brocade Paithani

Just like the bangdi mor design, the munia brocade is also inspired by nature. ‘Munia’ means parrot in Marathi, and a munia brocade Paithani saree features parrot motifs on the pallu and the border. The most common one is perhaps a pair of parrots sitting on a branch filled with leaves. If you want to sport a nature-themed look during the festivities, this Paithani should be your choice.

You can wear a Paithani in its usual style or take a classic approach by draping it in the dhoti style. The nine yards of sheer grace can be paired with your traditional gold jewellery. A Paithani saree is available in many colours but the most popular ones are kali chandrakala (jet black saree with a red border), Raghu (parrot green colour) and shirodak (white).

Get yourself a Paithani saree and drape it in a classic Maharashtrian style to flaunt your traditional glam.