English
বাংলা
The story
After the partition of 1947, weaving families from Benaras (Varanasi) and other parts of north India moved to what was then East Pakistan. Many were eventually settled in Mirpur, on the northern edge of Dhaka, where streets of workshops and showrooms grew into what is now called the Mirpur Benarasi Palli, around Mirpur 10 and 11. The weavers brought the brocade techniques of Benaras and adapted them to local markets and materials, and for decades their work was known in Bangladesh simply as Benarasi, the default choice of saree for a bride.
"Katan" refers to the yarn: filaments of silk tightly twisted together into a strong, lustrous thread. A katan saree is woven with this twisted silk as its base, and patterns are added with extra threads of silk or zari (metallic thread), traditionally controlled on the loom by a jacquard harness of punched cards. Designing those cards is a specialist skill handed down in Mirpur's weaving families. Common styles include all-over butis, broad brocade borders, jamewar and tissue sarees, and a heavy bridal piece can take weeks to weave.
In April 2025 Mirpur katan saree received a GI certificate, giving the Bangladeshi product a name of its own rather than borrowing that of Benaras. Weavers have said the recognition has not yet changed their difficulties: raw silk is far more expensive than it was, many workshops have shut or switched to power looms, and cheaper imported sarees compete for the same buyers.
How to spot the real Mirpur katan saree
Start with the base fabric. A true katan saree is pure silk: it feels heavy, cool and slightly crisp, and has a deep, soft sheen. Pull a thread from a hidden edge and burn it if in doubt: silk smells of burnt hair and leaves a crushable ash, whereas polyester melts into a hard bead. Much of what is sold as "katan" or "Benarasi" today is polyester or a silk blend, and such sarees are lighter, slippery and evenly shiny.
Then look at the zari and the back. Real metallic zari is stiffer and slightly rough; plastic or "tested" zari is softer and very bright. On a handloom brocade the reverse shows the floats of the pattern threads organised neatly behind each motif, with slight irregularities; a power-loom saree is usually perfectly uniform and may have long floats cut away. Ask the seller whether the saree was woven in Mirpur on a handloom, and whether the silk is local or imported.
Buying tips
Price is driven by the silk (pure, blended or synthetic), the quality and amount of zari, how much of the saree is covered in brocade, and handloom versus power loom. For a wedding saree, ask for a video of the saree in daylight, close photos of the reverse, and the exact fibre content written in the listing. Allow time: sellers often need several weeks for a custom bridal order.
On Midmart each shop sets and charges its own delivery, so buying the saree from one shop and accessories from another means two delivery charges. Midmart never takes payment or delivers; the seller agrees both with you directly. For a high-value saree, agree on return terms, packaging and how the parcel will travel before you pay anything.
Keeping it fresh
Always dry-clean a katan saree; water can dull silk and tarnish zari. Air it in the shade for a few hours after wearing before putting it away. Fold it with the zari inside, place soft paper or muslin between the folds, and wrap it in a cotton cloth rather than plastic. Refold every two or three months so the zari does not crack. Keep naphthalene in a paper sachet well away from the saree, as it can stain silk and tarnish metallic thread.
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Shops from where it is made
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