SHIMLA, INDIA, June 11, 2005: It’s a glittering sari threaded with silver and silk that took two years to make and costs Rs.200,000 — US$4,500! And the handicraft marvel is the center of attraction for tourists and locals at an exhibition currently on in this popular resort town of Himachal Pradesh. The maker of this colorful sari can be seen answering the queries of curious visitors as many wide-eyed women touch and dream of draping this nine-yard garment. “Instead of ordinary thread, I have used elaborate silver and silk thread for the embroidery. This has been so elaborate and painstaking that it has taken me two years to get this sari ready. It is well worth the price of Rs.200,000,” explains a proud Shamim Ahmed, a traditional sari maker from Maharashtra. The sari is bright red with a peacock blue border. “I’ve named it Pattan, the name of my village in Maharashtra, which is known for its saris,” Ahmed told IANS. “I have displayed and sold my saris all over India and also in Paris (France) where I received a lot of appreciation for my work,” he said. “I have already sold two saris each priced at over $2,250, so there are indeed customers who can buy such expensive pieces. My next target is to prepare an even more elaborate sari for $9,000,” says Ahmed.
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