In scenes that are a reminder of a high-tech smartphone launch rather than a traditional textile sale, hundreds of shoppers gathered outside the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) showroom in the early hours of Tuesday to buy Mysore silk sari.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), user Rakesh Krishnan Simha shared a video circulating, capturing the pre-dawn rush, showing families and elderly women seated on plastic chairs waiting in a line. He wrote, "Women queue up from 4.00 am outside a Karnataka Soviet (sorry Silk) Industries Corporation showroom to buy silk sarees starting from Rs 23,000 and going up to Rs 250,000. Only 1 saree per customer and you need a token to be in the queue."
"There is an ongoing shortage (or more precisely, a supply shortfall) of authentic Mysore silk sarees, particularly those produced by the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation, which holds the official production and GI-tagged rights for pure Mysore silk sarees," he explained.
Simha said that this has been a consistent issue throughout 2025, with no clear indication of resolution into 2026. "First up, the Corporation has a limited number of skilled in-house weavers and artisans. Their training takes 6-7 months for even basic proficiency. Production is restricted to the Corporation's trained workforce and facilities, preventing rapid scaling. Seasonal peaks (weddings, Varalakshmi Puja, Gowri Ganesha, Deepavali) worsen the crunch, with showrooms often selling out quickly," he said.
KSIC Measures
To manage the overwhelming crowds, KSIC has implemented stringent control measures:
- Token System: Entry is strictly limited to those holding a physical token issued upon arrival.
- Purchase Limits: Each customer is restricted to buying just one saree.
- Price Range: These heirloom pieces are significant investments, with prices ranging from Rs 23,000 to over Rs 2.5 lakh.
However, sari enthusiasts argue that the wait is a small price to pay for a product that carries a unique hologram and code, guaranteeing it will never tarnish and will retain its lustre for generations.
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