Surat (Gujarat): The cloth offered to Saibaba in Shirdi, Tirupati Balaji, Gurudwara of Punjab, Vrindavan, Swaminarayan temples and Vaishnodevi comes from Surat. The city is emerging as a hub for the fabric used for religious rituals and ceremonies. Many shops in the textiles market on the Ring Road have begun stocking fabric sought for making clothing for the idols of gods and goddesses.
According to Haresh Lalwani, who has been trading in religious fabrics since many years, the fabric made in Surat goes to most major temples in the country as also to the Swaminarayan temples, Radhakrishna temples and Gurudwaras in foreign countries. The non-resident Indians find the Surat fabric economical as it comes in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 300 per metre.
Clothes with embroidery work and jari are exported
He further said during the winter season there is a great demand for marble cloth for the idols of gods and goddesses. He said a special type of fabric with embroidery and jari work is exported to Canada, America and UK on-demand from non-resident Indians. Some customers order for raw material and get them embellished with embroidery at their end.
Demand for clothes made on a jacquard machine
Another trader Rikesh Bhai said there are many people of Indian origin in foreign countries who do not easily get clothing for the idols of their gods and goddesses and so contact traders of Surat. Surat exports millions of metres of fabric for making clothes for gods and goddesses and for religious purpose. At present, there is a great demand for fabric made on the jacquard machine.
Corona has reduced trade by 40 to 45 per cent
According to traders, due to the effect of coronavirus pandemic, there has been 40 to 45 per cent less trade compared to the previous years. This is due to the stoppage of international flights.
