A pillar here, an elaborately carved door there, trellised balconies and stone carvings offer tantalising glimpses of what it must have been like 2,000 years ago when Paithan, then known as Pratishthana, was the capital of the mighty Satavahana dynasty, and later the Vakatakas, the Yadavas and the Marathas. The town located a little more than 50 km from Aurangabad city was a bustling hub of trade, money and great influence.
Some of that buzz was briefly recreated recently when locals and textile aficionados from the country converged to visit Kāth Padar — Paithani & Beyond, an exclusive exhibition organised at the Shri Balasaheb Patil Government Museum. Presented by Maharashtra’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums along with Pune-based The Vishwas & Anuradha Memorial (TVAM) Foundation, it was an attempt to shine a light on the rich and ancient heritage of the place where the Paithani sari found expression.
