830 AM Departure from Kolkata 10 AM- Dhaniakhali We visit the weaver’s village where the legendary Dhaniakal Tant Saree is woven. We spend the next few hours meeting weavers and discussing this fine art with them. During the course of the day, we will visit weavers in their homes and watch them in action on their handlooms. We will also visit a dyeing unit which is an integral part of the Saree making process. The Jaquard weaving technique is followed by weavers of Dhaniakhali. The different steps of the weaving process like shedding, picking, beating-up, left off and take up can be seen. It will be a fascinating experience to see the variety of the designs of these sarees ranging from the simple elegant horizontal stripes to intricate fish and conch shell motifs. The vertically running woven braided line near the anchal or pallu, is the identifying factor for a Dhaniakhali Saree. Women testify that, after a few washes,  the comfort of a Dhaniakhali Saree is unmatched! Rise of the Phoenix Like other handloom articles, there was a fear that the appeal for Dhaniakhali Sarees will peter out as the designs become outdated and they lose consumer appeal.  However, in the last few years, there has been a remarkable turnaround in the designs and the Dhaniakhali Saree is in vogue again. Students from leading design schools of the country like NIFT and NID are working on the latest designs for Dhaniakhali Sarees. The traditional weavers have embraced contemporary designs. Novel names for Dhaniakhali Sarees like “Missed Call” and “Tsunami” are a testimony to this metamorphosis. 4 PM- Leave Dhaniakhali to return to Kolkata6 PM- Drop back to hotel in Kolkata