History Of Saree

One of the most sensual attires of a woman in India is undoubtedly the sari. It is a
long unstitched piece of cloth, usually 6 yards long that is draped in a set
pattern. It accentuates the curves of a woman and the mid-riff is usually
exposed. However, the way of draping a saree may differ from place to place.
The way it is draped in the north may be slightly different from how it is draped in
the south. It is available in a plethora of fibers, designs and colors. The sari is
usually worn with a blouse that covers the upper part of the body and
underneath it is the petticoat, which helps to tuck in the pleats of the saree to
hold it in place.

Interesting Information on the Background of Sari

The history and origin of sari seems to date back to the period of the
establishment of civilization. Evidence states that women in the Indus Valley
civilization used to cover themselves with a long piece of cloth, draped like a
trouser. However, the word ‘sari’ originated from the Prakrit word ‘sattika’,
which is mentioned in the early Buddhist literature. The word got shortened and
was called sati, which further evolved into sari.

A statue recovered from the Indus Valley Civilization depicts a female priest
wearing a cloth draped like a sari. The sari used to be draped in a way so that it
divides the two legs and forms a trouser like attire. This was basically done to
aid the temple dancers in their movements and also cover to their modesty. It is
believed that the ‘dhoti’, which is the oldest Indian garment that was draped, is
the foundation behind the sari. Till the 14th century, the dhoti was worn by both
men and women.

The early statues of Goddesses show that the sari was draped in a sensual
manner, like a ‘fishtail’, which was tied at the waist, covered up the legs and
came in front of the legs like a decorative drape. During that era, the upper part
of the body was either partially covered or was left bare. Down south in the state
of Kerala, one can still see people wearing the traditional sari, which is a two
piece garment, consisting of a lungi and a shawl. With the coming of the
Muslims, the ghagra or the petticoat was discovered and clothes were stitched.
Before that, Hindus believed piercing clothes with needles was impure.

The blouse came into existence with the Muslims and also the British. Since
then, sari has come of age and now many new styles are being experimented
with. But the main aspects of the sari like the blouse and the petticoat have been

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carried over in the modern times. Thus, sari is the perfect garment to enhance
the beautiful curves of the Indian woman and has done so since times
immemorial.

According to a charming folk tale about how the Sari came into existence.

"The Sari, it is said, was born on the loom of a fanciful weaver. He dreamt of
Woman. The drape of her tumbling hair. The colors of her many moods. The
shimmer of her tears. The softness of her touch. All these he wove together. He
couldn't stop. He wove for many yards. And when he was done, the story goes,
he sat back and smiled and smiled and smiled."

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.

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 vocabulary 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.

India has a diverse and rich textile tradition. The origin of Indian textiles can be
traced to the Indus valley civilization. The first literary information abouttextiles
in India can be found in the Rigveda, which refers to weaving.

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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.

What are the types of saris from different regions in India ?

The four general regions of India are each famous for different kinds of saris:

North: Bandhni, Chikan, Kota Doria, Banarasi, Taant

East: Baluchari, Kantha

South: Kanchipuram, Madisar

West: Bandhej, Patola, Chand

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North

Bandhni (Rajasthan, Gujarat)

Also known as Tie-Dye or Lehriya, Bandhni saris use an ancient technique of
tying the cloth in patterns before dipping it in a dye bath. Rajasthan and Gujarat
are famous for these brilliant tie-dyes. Bandhni saris are associated with
festivals, seasons, and rituals for which there are particular patterns and colors.
You'll also fine them decorated with mirrors and bead work.

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Chikan (Lucknow)
Chikan embroidery is a specialty of the Uttar Pradesh city Lucknow.
Its unique style was developed during the Mughal period (from the
16th to the 18th century). It is also called Lakhnavi Chikankari.

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Kota Doria (Rajasthan)
Named after Kota, a small district in Rajasthan, this type of sari uses a fine
woven fabric containing a checked pattern in the weave itself. These saris are
very delicate, lightweight, and porous, which helps with surface ornamentation
techniques like tie-dye, hand-block printing, embroidery, and appliqué work.

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Banarasi (Benaras)
The Banarasi sari is a must for brides. This classic style came into
existence during the Moghul era. The signature design of Banarasi
saris is a narrow fringe like pattern - called Jhalar - found along the
inner and outer border of the fabric.

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Taant (Bengal)
The word Taant literally means "Made on the Loom". Also known as Bengal
Cotton saris, these are a traditional sari type worn by Bengali Women. Taant
saris are a must-have for all cotton lovers.

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East

Baluchari (West Bengal)

The Baluchari type of sari is about 200 years old. Made of silk and woven on
looms, the borders of these saris depict stories from Indian epics like
Mahabharata and Ramayana. Baluchari saris use only silk threads - no zari.

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Kantha (West Bengal)
Known for its delicate embroidery, Kantha saris are identifiable by a decorative
motif with a running stitch. This art is practiced by rural women in West Bengal
as a hobby, and each Kantha sari is a result of hard work and labor.

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South

Kanchipuram (Tamilnadu)
Kanchipuram saris are characterized by the gold-dipped silver thread that is
woven into premium quality silk. Kanchipuram is actually a town in Tamilnadu.
The town's fabulous weaving history goes back centuries. Kanchipuram remains
untouched by fashion fads, so it still maintains traditional weaving styles and
techniques. The silk base of these saris is thicker than any other silk sari, which
makes it the most expensive kind of silk sari in India. It is believed that "The
heavier is the silk, the better is the quality". The most common motifs found in
Kanchipuram saris are Peacock and Parrot.

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Madisar (Tamilnadu)
Madisar is a type of sari which is worn by the Brahmin community (priestesses
and scholars) in Tamilnadu. It is a very important part of the Iyer and Iyengar
cultures. Brahmins wear Madisar saris for any important occasion - starting with
marriage, followed by Seemandham (a sort of baby shower), important poojas
(prayer rituals), and death ceremonies. It is 9 yards in length instead of the
common 6 yards.

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West

Bandhej (Gujarat)
Bandhej saris use the Gujarati style of tie-dye. The multi-coloring method
involves working in the lightest shade first, after which the fabric is tied
and a darker color is introduced. Any number of color schemes are
appropriate. The quality of Bandhej saris can be determined by the size of
the dots: The smaller and closer to the size of a pinhead the dots are, the
finer is the quality of the Bandhej.

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Patola (Gujarat)
"Oh dear, get me those expensive Patola saris with painted peacocks from
Patan", goes a popular Gujarati song. Leading ladies like Sonia Gandhi,
Priyanka Gandhi, and Nita Ambani would relate to the lyrics better than many
others.

Patola saris are the most time consuming and elaborate of all, as they have
intricate five-color designs which are resist-dyed into both warp and weft
threads before weaving. Patan, Gujarat produces only 25 to 30 such saris per
year. They can cost between Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh (approximately USD
$2,000 - $20,000)!

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Chanderi (Madhya Pradesh)
The Chanderi sari from Madhya Pradesh is light and meant for Indian summers.
It is made in silk or fine cotton.

How to wear saree in Flowing style?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJDCGcSQmkw

madisariyengar style saree tutorial video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw9UmE13WwU

Cnu.pne
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