Motif-wise, peacocks, parrots and lotuses remain the backbone of Paithani design, with the Hans, Ashraffi and Asawalli patterns gaining ground during the Peshwa era. The pallu is typically anchored by the muniya, alongside the geometric Panja, the ladder-patterned Barwa and the perennial Mor. Each saree, in effect, doubles as a record of the craft that made it, and Radhikaraje’s Ganeshotsav pick is a reminder of exactly why the weave has endured this long.
