Among all the motifs in the Banarasi weaving vocabulary, Shikargah is perhaps the most dramatic. A forest teeming with animals, birds, and flowering vines — all rendered in fine zari on silk. It is a motif with a history as rich as the sarees it adorns.

What is Shikargah?

Shikargah (also spelled Shikaargah or Shikargah) is a Persian word meaning “hunting ground.” In the context of Indian textiles, it refers to a motif style depicting an elaborate forest or garden scene populated with animals — typically deer, elephants, lions, tigers, and peacocks — set among trees, flowering vines, and foliage.

The motif is woven into the fabric using zari (gold or silver metallic thread), creating a dense, narrative pattern that covers the body of the saree.

The Mughal Origins of Shikargah

The Shikargah motif has its roots in Mughal court culture. The Mughal emperors were passionate hunters, and the hunt was a central ritual of royal life — a display of power, skill, and dominion over nature. Hunting scenes appeared across Mughal art: in miniature paintings, in architectural decoration, in carpets, and eventually in textiles.

As Mughal patronage shaped the weaving traditions of Varanasi, the Shikargah motif entered the Banarasi vocabulary. Weavers adapted the hunting-ground imagery into the loom, translating the dense, narrative quality of Mughal miniature painting into woven silk and zari.

Over centuries, the motif evolved — the hunting scenes became more stylised, the animals more decorative than realistic, the overall effect more ornamental than narrative. But the Mughal DNA remains visible in every Shikargah saree.

How Shikargah is Woven

Shikargah is one of the most technically demanding Banarasi weaves. The density and complexity of the motif — with multiple animals, plants, and background elements all rendered in zari — requires a highly skilled weaver and a significant amount of time on the loom.

Most Shikargah sarees are woven on a Jacquard loom, which uses a punched card system to control the pattern. The weaver still controls the tension, the zari, and the quality of the weave — but the Jacquard mechanism allows the complex repeat pattern to be executed consistently across the length of the saree.

The result is a saree that is heavy with zari, rich in detail, and unmistakably grand.

Shikargah Sarees in the Neem Tres Collection

• Vanarambha — Rani pink Banarasi brocade with peacocks, animals, and vines in antique gold zari. One of the most elaborate pieces in our collection.
• Wildure — Deep red katan silk with Shikargah flora and fauna in gold zari. A classic bridal choice.
• Sunveil — Golden katan silk with Shikargah motifs. Regal and celebratory.
• Wild Noir — Black katan silk with Shikargah motifs in antique gold zari. Dramatic and distinctive.

How to Wear a Shikargah Saree

Occasions

Shikargah sarees are grand by nature — they are best suited to occasions that match their scale: weddings, receptions, festive celebrations, and formal gatherings. They are not everyday sarees; they are statement pieces.

Jewellery

Because the saree itself is so richly patterned, jewellery should complement rather than compete. Gold jewellery — particularly polki, kundan, or temple jewellery — works beautifully. Avoid very heavy or ornate jewellery sets that will fight with the saree’s own visual complexity.

Blouse

A matching blouse in the same fabric is the most traditional choice. A plain silk blouse in a complementary colour — deep green with a red Shikargah, ivory with a pink one — can also work well and lets the saree take centre stage.

Caring for a Shikargah Saree

Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin cloth away from direct sunlight. Do not iron the zari work directly. With proper care, a Shikargah saree will last generations.