Sari/Saree: Poetry in Fabric

A Little Bit of History:
The Indian Sari, believe it or not, is more than 5000 years old! It was first mentioned in Rig Veda, the oldest surviving literature of the world, written somewhere around 3000 BC. The Sari, originally intended both for men and women, is probably the longest incessantly worn dress in the history of mankind. Famous Indian historical heroines like Queen Jhansi Laxmibai, Belawadi Mallamma and Kittur Chennamma wore Saree during their battles. Neat and tightly away, Saree enabled them to battle enemy troops on horseback.

The Sari: Sari (originally Chira in Sanskrit, meaning Cloth), is a rectangular piece of cloth, usually 5-9 yards in length. The approximate size of a sari, to make it more understandable is 47 inches by 216 inches. For an untailored length of cloth, the fabric of the sari is very well thought-out, and the design vocab ulary very sophisticated.
Every Sari has a design theme, and often has a story to tell. The main field of the sari is framed on its three sides by decorative borders. Two of these borders run along the longitudinal sides of the sari, and the third comprises the end piece of the sari, and is known as its Pallav.

The Pallav is a broader, and more intensified version of the two longitudinal borders. This end piece is the part of the sari that is draped over the shoulder and left to hang over the back or front. For example, if the two longitudinal borders have vines with leaves embroidered on them, the end piece or the pallav will have a lush tree with lots of leaves, and maybe even some flowers on it.

How to wear a Saree (sari)?
It is the only garment that can be draped in 17 different styles and each one looks different from the other. You would be amazed to know that the sari is the only outfit, which makes a thin person lo ok voluptuous and a fat person look thinner, if draped correctly with soft fabrics.

Classic style of draping
1. Hold the plain end of your saree towards the right side of your naval and tuck it into the drawstring petticoat. Rem ember …. let the bottom of your saree always touch the ground. Now take the drape.
2. Bring the drape to the front from the right side to a position in front of the naval in order to make a minimum of 6-7 pleats out of the drape.
3. Hold the pleats together and tuck them into the petticoat in the same position. Now take the loosened drape once again around from the left side and bring it to the front from the right side.
4. Hold the loosened end of the saree in front and start pleating (approximately 3-4 pleats).
5. Hold the pleats together.
6. Now bring the pleats over your shoulder, leaving the drape falling behind you. You may pin the pleats to your blouse if desired.
7. Bring the ‘pallu’ (the drape that falls behind) to the front and tuck it in for a stylish appearance!