Awadhi Jamdani is a beautiful and intricate weaving technique, famous for its finesse and complexity. The weave is famous for how light and shadow interact with the fabric, and the drape feels soft and smooth.

The word ‘Jamdani’ is from the Persian words jama (rope) and dan (receptacle). The Jamdani weave migrated from Bengal to Varanasi and Tanda in Uttar Pradesh, evolving into the style we know today.

The Awadhi Jamdani became popular among the royal families of Varanasi and the Nawabs of Awadh. The craft particularly flourished under the reign of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah before becoming the preserve of the king of Ayodhya.

Artists weave the fabric from cotton threads to create a beautiful, subtle pattern. The masterful patterns of Awadhi Jamdani often feature figurines, flowers, and geometric shapes. These patterns appear on various clothing items like saris, angarakhas, caps, coats, and tunics.

The book, Handmade for the 21st Century-Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textiles, by Ritu Sethi (Chairperson of the Craft Revival Trust) documents fascinating white-on-white cotton-muslin weaves.

Jadunath Supakar, a textile artist, helped revive the Awadhi Jamdani tradition. His new ideas were inspired by Santiniketan and Kalamkari textile traditions and artists like Martand Singh. His son, Sribhas Chandra Supakar, continues the inspiring work

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