5th Dec 2010…Woke up to a bright and beautiful morning, the sun was peeping through the bed room curtains. A hot cup of tea and the morning newspaper was lying on my bedside table. Oh, what luxury!!! Sipped the tea, opened the newspaper and my eyes popped out…

I was speechless… the headline read…Terror strikes Varanasi: 1 dead, 25 hurt in blast at ghat (7th Dec 2010 around 6.30pm).

My first thoughts went to the people of Varanasi…. The endless pilgrims, the foreign tourists, the weavers of Benarasi Sarees and the common public. My thoughts went back to time I was getting married and I went Benaras to buy my wedding saree. A Benarasi Saree . Varanasi also known as Benaras, situated on the banks of river Ganga, is considered to be one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world…It is a sacred destination for both Hindus and Buddhist and the rich cultural and heritage attract tourists from all over the world.

Varanasi is also known for its Benarasi Silk.In fact several first-millennium Buddhist texts mention Benaras fabrics, giving the indication that Benaras has been the centre of fine textile weaving for at least two millennia. During the past few centuries, the weavers of Benaras have been Muslims belonging to the Julaha community. Some of the weavers have been able to trace their lineage back to 990 AD. The Benarasi silk sarees reached their fame during the Mughal era in the 1600s. During that time the traditional motifs of the saree underwent a change and combined Indian and Persian patterns.

Originally the sarees were embellished with threads made from real gold and silver for use by the royal family. In modern times, this has been replaced by gold- and silver-colored thread, making the sarees affordable. The Benarasi silk saree is richly embroidered, making it heavy and it is usually only worn during special occasions such as weddings. It is very depressing when a handful of selfish people for their benefits, plan to destroy the peace and solace of a place with such rich heritage.