Banarsi or Bandhani is the painting of royals – The tie-dyed fabric of Gujarat are perhaps the best bent in India. Also recognized as Bandhej.Bandhni sarees are created by dyeing the cloth in such a manner that a lot of small resist-dyed ‘spots’ produce elaborate patterns over the fabric.

The usual bandhani saree market has shrunk however, because of the rise of low-cost silk-screened imitations and most modern bandhani sarees are made with larger design and fewer ties than in the past.There are varieties of bandhej saree available in two contrasting colors, with borders, end-pieces and one or more large central medallion called a pomcha or padma (lotus flower).

Red and black is the most general color combination but other pairs of colors are also found. For instance, the panetar saree is a Gujarati-Hindu saree of satin weave and Gajji silk with red borders, central medallion and a white body, which may contain regularly spaced red tie-dyed spots.

The earliest reference to bandheni is in Bana Bhatt’s Harshacharita, where he describes a royal wedding, “the old matrons were skilled in many sorts of textile patterning, some of which were in the process of being tied (bandhya mana)”. This material was used to make the skirts for women. Abandhoni garment was careful auspicious for the bride. One also finds the maids in the Ajanta wall paintings wearing blouses of tie and dye patterns. Another type of tie and die sari is shibori sari.