Like the town, Waraseoni sarees are renowned for their understated elegance and grace and have a rich history of handloom saree production. The Koshtis, a group of weavers, are said to have taken their name from ‘Kosa’, or Tussar silk, while ‘Sa lewa’ is thought to be from the Sanskrit word SÄ lika, which means weave.

The artform

It is documented that weaving has been done in Waraseoni, in the Balaghat district, for more than 250 years. This fabric is woven from rough, thick cotton that was originally woven in 10s to 20s counts. They now progressively transitioned to silk and a blend of fibers. Another name for these is Wainganga cotton sarees. The border known as Bhag and Nakshikinar contains variegated stripes and checks.

GI

This epitome of grace was awarded the GI tag in 2023.