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Jaipur man recreates 80-year-old Rajput tradition by designing 24-carat gold 'Safa'

The 'Safa', made by Jaipur-based designer Bhupendra Singh Shekhawat, costs around Rs 22 lakh, weighs around 530 grams and is nine meters long.


Jaipur: 'Safas' decorated with threads of precious metals like silver and gold were said to have been last worn by the Rajputs around 80 years ago. A Jaipur-based designer has recreated the signature apparel. The designer named Bhupendra Singh Shekhawat spent around four years experimenting with several metals to be able to make a 24-carat gold 'Safa', a traditional turban worn by men in the state.

The 'Safa', made by Shekhawat, costs around Rs 22 lakh, weighs around 530 grams and is nine meters long. Speaking to ANI, Bhupendra Shekhawat said, "I wanted to make gold 'Safa'. So, I checked on the internet if anyone made such 'Safas', but I couldn't find anyone. So, I decided to make it myself. After being rejected by over a hundred people, some people finally agreed to help me in making a 'Safa' with threads of pure gold." "They ran out of practice for some reason, be it due to the high price or effort. It was not made anywhere in the country anymore. It used to be signature apparel for the Rajputs," he added. He further stated, "Around 48 people helped me make this 'Safa'. We first experimented with cheaper metals like copper, then moved on to silver and then gold." Recently, a Rajasthan-based industrialist placed an order for 24-carat gold 'Safa'.