Actor and Member of Parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut joined the Hariyali Teej celebrations hosted by Delhi’s Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta. Kangana wore a lime green silk saree for the occasion. Though it hasn’t been confirmed, the saree mostly looks like a Kanjeevaram silk saree with a lime-green silk base, with a coral and pink-coloured pallu featuring patterns of trees and birds. She paired her saree with a matching lime-green blouse. Kangana had accessorised her look with traditional jewellery, a choker necklace and jhumkas in gold, pearls and emeralds. Her hair was slicked back into a low bun with a centre parting. Kangana completed her look with a bindi.

She shared snaps from the fun-filled evening and wrote, “Meri pehli Teej ka tyohaar, Rekha didi ke ghar pe, sach mein ek badi bahen ka payaar aur dular bilkul ghar jaisa apnapan. Sabko teej ki anek shubhkamnaein.” Translation: “My first Teej celebration at Rekha didi’s home, with the love and affection of an elder sister, and a sense of belonging that truly felt like home. Wishing everyone a very happy Teej.”

The Kanjeevaram is a variety of silk saree that is woven in the town of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. The Kanjeevaram silk saree received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2005-2006. “The earliest records of weaving in Kanchipuram can be traced to the tenth century CE, to the Saliyar community of Andhra Pradesh. Over the following generations, a number of other weavers’ communities also settled in the region, including the Devanga community, the Sengunthar or the Kaikolars and weavers from Saurashtra, Gujarat, drawn by royal patronage and the rising demand to produce cloth for temples and to be exported to international markets, primarily Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia and Myanmar,” states Impart of Art & Photography Foundation.

The Kanjeevaram sarees are woven using mulberry silk sourced from Karnataka, whose toughness allows for a smooth and lustrous finish. Intrestingly, 75% of the gold zari that is used in weaving these sarees are brought in from Surat in Gujarat. Historically these sarees were woven to nine yards.

Read More: Kangana Ranaut Puts India’s Textile Heritage Front and Centre, One Saree at a Time

Kangana has been championing the cause of “Vocal for Local” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives and is spotted wearing and promoting Indian handlooms. She is one of the few politicians who have brought fashion and politics together. The MP from Mandi has also been actively promoting Himachali handloom. She has also been using her public appearances to promote the craftsmanship of her constituency. In February this this year, she was spotted wearing an eye-catching multicoloured overcoat over an ivory chiffon saree. She later revealed that the coat had been woven by women from her constituency under the guidance of Kullvi Whims. The look was another example of her efforts to bring attention to local artisans and traditional crafts from Himachal Pradesh.

But it’s her saree collection that one gets glimpses of during the Parliament Sessions that has been grabbing headlines. On National Handloom Day, she had worn a dusty pink saree from Kutch. Ikats, Kotpad, Paithani, Banarasi, Kanjeevaram, Khadi, Kangana has been giving a masterclass in sarees.