The Gharchola saree is an old saree from the regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan. It began in Khambat, Gujarat, where these sarees were used exclusively for weddings. As Khambat was a port, many traders passed from this place and brought in the weavers of silk. This added to the greatness of the Gharchola saree. As these weavers were good in the art of dying, they produced rich colours of red which are now synonymous with wedding attire.
The Gharchola saree has a distinguishing pattern which is a grid. This is used for brides to enter their new home. The word ‘Ghar’ means home, and ‘Chola’ means clothing, so it is the bride’s costume when she enters her new home.
Gharchola Sarees Importance:
The Gharchola saree is a traditional saree that shows a welcome sign to the bride when she enters the bridegroom’s house. Religiously, the mother of the groom gives this Gharchola to the bride. She then drapes it over her head to show respect and blessings. This draping is also significant as it shows the mother-in-law’s love and the care she will now take for her new daughter-in-law. The Gharchola is also part of the wedding rituals tied to the groom’s stole.
Gharchola Saree Features:
Gharchola sarees are wedding sarees of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- The bride wears a Gharchola as a dupatta drapes over her head.
- One end of the saree is tied at the waist in a pleat.
- The other end is put on the right side shoulder.
- You can also use this end of the saree to tie to the groom’s stole. This is normally done during the wedding rituals when the pair go around the holy fire.
Which Fabrics Are Used in Gharchola Sarees?
The traditional Gharchola saree is made with Venkatagiri cotton, rich cotton from Andhra Pradesh. This cotton has a lovely feel and shines, perfect for weddings. The cotton is great for breathability and absorbs all the rich colours like red, maroon, etc. You can also have Gharchola sarees in a silk and cotton mix, but pure silk is not advisable. Gaji silk is the only type of silk that can withstand the colour-dying process, and the intricate work is done on the saree.
Which Body Shape Women are Preferred?
As the Gharchola is for brides, it makes no difference what body shape you are in. The saree is perfect for all kinds of brides. They can be short, tall, slim or heavy built. The saree does not let you feel any different. You will look stunning on your wedding day in a gorgeous Gharchola saree. So do not be disheartened about any body shape you have, as the Gharchola will make you look and feel like a queen on the most important day.
Beautiful Designs of Gharchola Sarees for Women with Images:
Here are the best models of Gharchola saris that are trending right now.
1. Designer Gharchola Saree:
Here is a lovely designer Gharchola saree in orange and green. The grid pattern is famous, and the gold zari all over the saree makes it perfect. The gold zari on the border of the saree is very traditional. This saree is made of good quality Gajji Silk. The rich colours of green and orange come right out. The bandhani print is also present on this saree.
- Fabric: Gajji Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Weddings and even religious functions
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For Slim bodies
2. Bandhani Gharchola Saree:
Choose this wonderful saree in bright red for a perfect function. This bandhani Gharchola saree is just right for you to look beautiful in a red saree. Here, you can choose a range of colours and deep hues; saree comes in. The design of this saree is a bandhani pattern with tie-dye features. So the red and gold zari woven motifs combination along with looks very beautiful.
- Fabric: Art Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Festivals and Receptions
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for slim body types
3. Gharchola Silk Saree:
A beautiful Gharchola silk saree is made with the traditional gaji silk material. This pure silk fabric is perfect with the Gharchola work on the body. Wear this stunning piece for your most important day. The design of this saree includes designer handwork on the palla and the body. Threadwork border and motifs line the saree to make it stunning.
- Fabric: Gaji Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Weddings, rituals, and festivals
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for slim body types
4. Gharchola Panetar Saree:
If you are a bride from the Gujarat region, the best attire would be a Gharchola panetar saree. This wonderful saree has bright colours of rani pink and green. This makes the perfect Gharchola wedding saree. The saree is made from pure gaji silk fabric. Here white with the rani pink and green combination is made into something exquisite. Worn traditionally, it will bring you many blessings.
- Fabric: Gajji Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Weddings
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for slim body types
5. Cotton Gharchola Saree:
This cotton Gharchola saree is just the right saree for a bride. The bright red colour of the saree brings out the fairness of the bride. The intricate dying process and the embroidered work done in the grid pattern are exquisite. The Gharchola saree made with cotton has a grid pattern, and within each grid, it has the bandhani tie-dye technique pattern. The gold zari border adds a rich touch to this saree.
- Fabric: Cotton Gharchola
- Occasions to Wear: Weddings and festivals
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for all body types
6. Ghatchola Zari Checks Saree:
The main design element of the Gharchola zari sarees is a check pattern. This is where the gold zari is made into squares, and then the intricate design is done in the space in between. The Gharchola saree has pure zari work. The fabric used for the Gharchola saree can be cotton or gaji silk. Here the zari is weaved in squares, and tie-dye is done in between. This checked pattern is mostly made all over the saree.
- Fabric: Satin Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Religious festivals
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for slim body types
7. Bridal Gharchola Saree:
This is the perfect wedding attire for a bride of the Gujarat region. This bridal Gharchola saree is bright with colours and designs that are symbolic. The wedding day costume of the bride is beautiful and ethnic. The bridal saree is made from pure shiny gajji silk. The design has a traditional grid pattern. Each grid has some designs like floral and peacock motifs.
- Fabric: Gajji Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Weddings
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for slim body types
8. Georgette Gharchola Saree:
A wonderful georgette Gharchola saree, when worn by a beautiful woman, looks even more stunning. This pure georgette saree has all the makings of a fine heirloom piece. You will love to flaunt this saree at the next function you attend. This saree is made with pure georgette, and the intricate zari grid pattern is all over. The saree has a border of zari lines and ends with Jhumkas. This is a typical Rajasthani work Gharchola saree.
- Fabric: Georgette
- Occasions to Wear: Religious occasions and Festivals
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for All body types
9. Pink and Red Gharchola Saree:
This pink and red Gharchola saree is another classic that you will love to wear for occasions. The colours are bright and beautiful. The saree has a festive look to it. Try this gorgeous saree, and you will surely enjoy how you look in it. The Gharchola saree has a zari woven check design on the body with a border of the grid pattern. The pink and red colour is colour-blocked on the body, giving it a modern touch.
- Fabric: Art Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Festivals Special days
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for slim body types
10. Satin Silk Gharchola Saree:
Here is a pure Gharchola satin saree that is awesome it looks. The colours of this saree are bold and bright. You will love to show off in this amazing handwork saree. The fabric used here is pure satin silk. This gives the saree a very soft feel. The zari work done on the saree is throughout and in a grid pattern. The palla of the saree has full zari work done.
- Fabric: Satin Silk
- Occasions to Wear: Festivals and Wedding receptions
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable for all body types
Which Blouse is Suitable for Gharchola Saree?
A Gharchola sari image will always show you a wonderful colourful blouse worn to accentuate the saree. This blouse can be of cotton or gaji silk. The colour should be the colour of the contrast in the saree. You can have zari work done on the blouse as well. The bride’s blouse will also have more intricate designs like thread work, zari work, patterns, and symbols. Making the blouse should also be of utmost importance. The cut and style of the blouse should reflect the customs and be modern to suit today’s generation of brides.
How To Style Gharchola Saree?
The Gharchola saree can be styled in various ways:
- When wearing it for the formal wedding ceremony, you will need to drape it over your shoulder.
- You can wear it in the regular Indian style for other festivals and functions.
- Being a Gujarati attire, you can also wear it the Gujarati way with the palla drawn in front.
- The intricate palla work should always show off, so do not pleat the palla on the shoulder.
The Gharchola saree is the epitome of the Gujarati and Rajasthani weavers and their creations. This gorgeous piece of fabric, when woven with love, brings out the best. In rich hues of red and gold, this saree is what most women love to wear on the most important day of their lives. The Gharchola sari, with its intricate grid pattern and the bandhani effect, gives you a glorious look that sets you apart from others. So add this piece of history to your collection of sarees. Even if you are not from Gujarat, it is great to have a saree from this place.
