Mamata saris the rage in Kolkata this Durga Puja

While Mamata Banerjee may have brought progressive change to West Bengal following her stupendous victory over the CPI (M) in May this year, she has drawn the state back to the real Bengal, too — and no, this is not about her renaming the state to Paschimbanga .

Didi, as she is popularly known, has reintroduced the Bangla mahila (woman) to the traditional Bangla sari, the taat.

Known for her fiery temperament, West Bengal’s chief minister at barely five feet, perpetually in her trademark white cotton sari and rubber chappals, is an unapparent style icon this Dussehra.

Following her victory in the state assembly elections, breaking the 34-year rule of the CPI (M), Mamata’s plain white cotton saris with a simple coloured border have become the fashion rage in Kolkata this Durga Puja.

According to a CNN-IBN report, Mamata’s simple saris are ruling the markets and minds of Bengali women this season, with many revellers going in for ‘Mamata Saris’ as they have come to be known.

A Kolkata trader, who stocks the ‘Mamata Saris’ told CNN-IBN, “It’s Didi’s sari and there’s much demand for it. Since she has won the election, everybody wants to wear plain saris. Everyone wants to be Mamata Didi.”

A young man accompanying his better half for puja shopping was buying her the fashionably unassuming sari. “She wanted to be like Didi and wear the kind of saris that she does. So I am buying her white cotton saris,” he said.

Even as his companion draped the ‘Mamata sari’ on herself admiring it, she said, “We always wear coloured saris. Why not try something new this time?”

Traditionally, Bengali women wore the taat — a white cotton sari with thick red borders — but had of late moved to wearing colourful silk saris with an even more colourful border (and also with traditional zari work).

However, Mamata’s style has made Bengali women revisit their Bangla roots. The fashion scene in West Bengal, which had seen a change over the past few years, has gone back to the customary — all thanks to Didi.

It may be a while before her rubber chappals follow suit, but don’t be surprised if you see the taat blazing the runway soon.

Popular Bengali fashion designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh, gives Mamata’s saris a thumbs up this season, saying they are very Bengal describing it as “white with a typical border.”. “People are looking at it now. She has been like this forever,” Ghosh told CNN-IBN.

For now, Didi’s taat is showing its thaat (power) and ruling the shopping streets of Kolkata this Dussehra.

Watch video about the popularity of Mamata saris this Dussehra: