Murshidabad Silk Mulberry Sericulture West Bengal Nawabi

Murshidabad district in West Bengal has been a silk weaving centre since the Nawabi period (18th century) when the Nawab of Bengal maintained a silk atelier producing Murshidabad Katan and Baluchari brocades for the royal court. Silk weaving in Murshidabad uses Bombyx mori silk cocoons reeled on small cooperative units in Jiaganj and Azimganj towns. Murshidabad Katan silk, a pure silk fabric of remarkable lustre, is woven in Muslim weaver families (Ansari community) for saris, dupattas, and sherwani fabric. Cooperative marketing through Bengal government Tantuja outlets reaches urban buyers. Murshidabad silk sericulture is linked to Bengal Silk Board procurement programs for raw silk supply to Varanasi and Murshidabad weavers.