Murshidabad Berhampur Silk Saree Cooperative West Bengal

Murshidabad district of West Bengal is the centre of a distinctive tussar and mulberry silk weaving tradition producing Baluchari and Murshidabad silk sarees at the cooperative weaving clusters in Berhampore, Jiaganj, and Azimganj towns. Murshidabad was the Nawabi capital of Bengal and patronised silk weaving from the 17th century onward. Baluchari sarees woven in Bishnupur traditionally depict elaborate scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana in the pallav end border using supplementary weft technique. Murshidabad silk sarees use a lighter weight mulberry silk yarn on satin weave foundations with zari gold border work. Cooperative weaver societies in Jiaganj and Azimganj provide yarn, design cards, and welfare support to registered weavers. The silk cooperative procures mulberry cocoons from reeling units in Malda and processed tussar from Jharkhand suppliers. Weavers from Muslim Ansari and Hindu Tanti communities work side by side in cooperative workshop arrangements.