Banarasi silk sarees get Copyright Cover
The GI status would benefit about 12 lakh people associated directly or indirectly with the handloom industry of the region
Modeling | Banaras | India
Updated On: 9/18/2009
[Total Votes: 17, Hits: 372] Print

Banarasi silk products have now joined the league of Pochampalli, Tirupati laddu and Darjeeling tea under the registered name of ‘Banaras Brocades and Sarees’ by securing Geographical Indication (GI) rights.

This is the first GI status to any product in Eastern UP covering Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh districts. The other product that has got the GI status in UP — after April — is Malihabadi Dussehri mango. The GI rights are the intellectual property rights that restrict others from marketing or processing a product in the same name.

The office of assistant director (hand loom) and other applicants have received the GI certificate for Banarasi silk products. ‘‘We dedicate this achievement to lakhs of hand loom weavers in the region. It will not only benefit the hand loom weavers, but also exporters and consumers,’’ said Rajni Kant, Human Welfare Association (HWA) president and one of the applicants confirming the GI status to the famed products of the region.

He said the GI status would benefit about 12 lakh people associated directly or indirectly with the hand loom silk industry of the region because it would restrict the misuse of Banarasi saree brand. As per the GI certificate issued by the registrar of GI, the Banaras Brocades and Sarees fall in four classes (13-26) that include silk brocades, textile goods, silk saree, dress material and silk embroidery. The registration is for 10 years and it may be further renewed.

Kant also said full support has been received from organizations like UK based Find Your Feet, Department for International Development and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) India in securing the GI status.

For the GI registration, nine organizations — Banaras Bunkar Samiti, Human Welfare Association (HWA), joint director industries (eastern zone), director of hand looms and textiles Uttar Pradesh Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Federation, Eastern UP Exporters Association (EUPEA), Banarasi Vastra Udyog Sangh, Banaras Hath Kargha Vikas Samiti and Adarsh Silk Bunkar Sahkari Samiti — had applied to the Chennai-based Geographical Indication Registry in July 2007. And, after a long wait of over two years, the world famous Banarasi saree and brocade got GI status on September 4 this year.

Banaras, one of the richest weaving centres of the country, is famous for brocade, sarees and dress material. With their glamorous appearance and colours, the exclusive varieties of the sarees like Jangla, Tanchoi, Vaskat, Cutwork, Tissu and Butidar attract every woman.

In the ancient times, Banaras was famous for weaving of cotton saree and dress material. During the Mughal period, around 14th century, weaving of brocades with intricate designs using gold and silver threads was the specialty of Banaras. ‘‘It is a big achievement for the people associated with the Banarasi saree industry. In this era of globalisation, it is essential to get the GI status,’’ said Ashok Kapoor, the founder member of EUPEA.

TOP

 • Thanksgiving Day Coloringbook
 • Thanksgiving Day Festival
 • Thanksgiving Day Greetings
 • Short Poems for children
 • Thanksgiving Sayings
 • When is Thanksgiving Day
 • Activities, History, Quiz
 • First Thanksgiving
 • Thanksgiving Feast, Art & Craft Ideas, Gift Ideas
 • Blessings
 • Calendar, Continental Congress National Thanksgiving Proclamations, Thanksgiving Turkey Presidential Pardon
 • 1777 Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1778 Thanksgiving Proclamation, Prayers, Catholic Thanksgiving Prayer, Family Thanksgiving Prayer