INTRODUCTION
It’s not simply the huge tea gardens that the Assamese are happy with, but additionally the stunning Muga Silk. The golden-yellowish shade of the Muga silk makes it look so elegant that there’s hardly ever any opportunity of you not receiving large quantity of compliments when you are wearing it. Muga silk is one among the many nature’s gift to Assam.
The specialty of this silk is its golden shiny color. “Muga” is derived from the Assamese phrase ‘muga’ which means yellowish. It’s superior in each respect from the traditional white silk obtainable everywhere in the world. This silk is rather more sturdy than the traditional one. And curiously its brightness improves with every wash whereas the traditional silk needs to be very rigorously washed. Heard of Ahom Dynasty? The historical past of the golden treasure of Assam had its manufacturing start around between 1228 and 1826. You’d be amazed that the queens of the Ahom Dynasty took the responsibility and personally skilled the weavers. Muga garments are so sturdy that it may be used for many years. Muga Silk is meant to be one of the costliest materials in the entire world.
Muga is produced from cocoons of ‘Antheraea Assamensis’ which is out there solely in Assam. Muga worm(‘Muga Polu’ in Assamese) additionally has the identical lifecycle as silkworm,ie. egg, caterpillar, pupa and moth.
Muga
Muga sarees are the well-known silk sarees produced solely in Assam. Muga sarees aren’t solely elegant and delightful however additionally they have ample energy and sturdiness. Girls of all ages put on the Muga sarees on festive and auspicious events. Muga silk sarees are the unique creations of the artisans of east India. These sarees are admired for the pure sheen and gorgeousness they possess.
The phrase ‘Muga’ means yellowish in Assamese. The Muga silk saree is thought for its unparalleled golden hue. The saree is created from this positive material and can also be conventional to Assam’s heritage and tradition. The Muga silk is a produce of the silkworm and solely in Assam, which makes this saree one of many most interestingly rarest and very expensive. Muga Silk is meant to be one of the costliest materials in the entire world.
The Muga silk filament can’t be bleached and therefore can’t be dyed. There’s a pure golden and shimmering look in Muga silk which can’t be present in different silk varieties. On twenty third August 2007 Assam’s Muga silk has been added to the record of merchandise granted the safety of geographical indication (GI).
Muga Silk & Historical Past
The golden silk generally known as “Muga Silk” just isn’t solely a novel silk product from Assam, but additionally an emblem of wealthy Assamese tradition and a part of conventional apparel of the area. It’s a great pride of Assam. This can be a wild caterpillar reared in Assam, India. These silkworms feed on the fragrant leaves of Som and Soalu crops and are reared on timber much like that of Tussar. The silk produced is golden in color. The silk produced is sought for its shiny positive texture and sturdiness.
Muga is a particular kind of untamed silk. Muga silk was unknown to the world until 1662, until French Explorer Mr. Jean Joseph Taverniere found Muga Silk through an exploration to Assam area of India.
Color & Designs of Muga Silk
Muga sarees are woven in Muga silk, which is found solely in Assam all through the world. The satisfaction of India, Muga silk is thought for its pure shimmering golden color. The costliest of silks, Muga is an integral a part of the custom and tradition of Assam. This material is among the world treasures of positive silk materials. The motifs and designs woven on the physique have the standard colors like red, green and black which offer a dramatic impact in opposition to the golden color of the Muga material.
These silk worms yield a stupendous golden thread that’s wanted a lot for its color and sheen. It takes the silkworm another three to 4 days to rework right into a pupa and another 15 days for the moth to emerge, however this isn’t allowed to happen for all.
Varied motifs, butis are knitted or woven on the saree and its border. The motifs utilized in these sarees are principally conventional symbols of animals, human figures, creepers, flowers, birds, rivers, cross borders, the galaxy and decorative designs. Marriage ceremonial Mekhla Chaddars are adorned with gold and silver thread work.
Manufacturing
An attention-grabbing equation to notice is that it takes about 1000 cocoons to generate 125 grams of Silk and around 1000 grams of Silk is required for a saree. Over and above, the time taken to make one single saree is about two months starting from rearing the silkworm to the completed product. The weaving technique of the Muga silk saree alone takes up one week to 10 days to finish.
It is the artistic creativity of the weavers in varied corners of Assam which adds extra to the pure golden glow of Muga. Sualkusi which is located in Kamrup is legendary for producing muga silk. The weavers embroider varied lovely varieties to the muga mekhela chadars. The muga dress are normally very wealthy in colours and have embroidery of flowers, timber, leaves, bihu, associated buildings, and so forth. This makes the dress very spectacular and distinctive.
Right here comes the handloom every one is so distinctively created by hand and the design can’t be precisely identical due to hand weaving. its rather like a painting which is so lovely to have a look at, it’s pure, it’s totally different and it’s particular and never widespread. A lot of the sarees are one piece and not copied a number of time. The superb humidity absorption and high quality of Muga makes it cool to put on in summer time and additionally it is comfy in winter.
Historically muga is used to make mekhela – sadar (equal of Saree in Assam) for ladies and kurtas for boys. Until date it’s thought-about to be probably the most refined apparel in Assam.