About Santipur Tanter Sharees in West Bengal, Santipur

The bustling town of Shantipur in Nadia district of West Bengal, India, is just 90 kilometres (2 hours drive) north of the metropolis of Kolkata. It has recently been declared a city. Neighbouring Fulia is often uttered in the same breath with Shantipur, their contrasting backgrounds notwithstanding. Together they are perhaps the most renowned Bengal handloom saree weaving centre in Bengal. Shantipur and Fulia sarees are household names across India.

Shantipur has a history as a seat of Sanskrit literature and Vedic learning dating back to the 9th century. The first recorded references as a handloom weaving centre are over 500 years old. Fulia in contrast shot to fame as a centre of handloom saree weaving more recently, banking on immigrant weavers from Bangladesh, erstwhile East Pakistan.

The Shantipur – Fulia region has over 125,000 handlooms, churning out Shantipuri, Tangail, and Jamdani handloom sarees in a variety of yarns like cotton, tussar and silk. Dhotis, dress materials, stoles and scarves are also woven.

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