The Hindu Business Line : A sari for Guinness

IT'S a Kancheepuram silk sari like no other. RmKV, a leading retailer of silk saris in Tamil Nadu, has unveiled the world's longest silk sari in an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records.

The sari is 214 metres long and 139 cm wide against the existing record of 121 metres long and 114 cm in width. A conventional sari is 5.5 metres long and about 110 cm wide. N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, and Dr T.H. Somashekar, Director, Central Silk Technological Research Institute, were the judges who authenticated the measurements.

K. Viswanathan, Partner, Rm.K.Visvanatha Pillai & Sons, said it took six master weavers supported by 16 craftsmen three months working day and night on a traditional handloom to weave the sari. The sari depicts the Mahabalipuram shore temple, the pride of Pallava architecture, surrounded by lashing waves, and the rock mural, Arjuna's Penance, with its composition of lions, elephants, deer, monkeys and celestial beings. The pallu was woven using 50,000 jacquard cards.

N. Ram, lauding the efforts taken by the company to highlight the skills of the master craftsmen, said the weaving community has become vulnerable. In some parts of the country, cotton weavers have been going through a crisis, he said, adding that only trade and commerce could help keep alive the world-class weaving craft.