One end is passed twice round the waist, upper borderf tied in a strong knot, and allowed to fall in graceful folds to the ankle, thus forming a sort of petticoat or skirt. Today in the urban and semi-urban areas of India, modes of economy and production have radically changed, but one factor that remains constant is the presence of the Saree in the life of the Indian woman. It is interesting that even women in Western countries have begun to develop some interest in Sarees for their graceful decoration of female form.
The word Saree is anglicized from 'Sadi', which
existed in Prakrit language As Sadia and originated from Sanskrit 'Sati'
meaning a strip of clot. Sati, occurs in the 'Mahabharata' and perhaps earlier,
but the nature of this garment in those times and how it was worn, is difficult
to gauge accurately. It is certain that the art was highly cultivated. There
are innumerable references in ancient Indian literature to the draped garment
and its style.
As far as length and woven proportions of the
draped garment is concerned, it mostly depends on the cultural area and
conjunction of use and varies from almost a square piece of about 125 cm. to
the standard urban rectangular Saree, about 5 m. long and 120 cm. broad. With
respect to the material from which these Sarees are made and their texture,
these aspects vary from one handloom centre to another. As to the material of
choice, cotton naturally occupies the first place: followed by mixtures of
cottons and silk, rayon and their blends of cottons and lastly silk with
ornamented brocading. The silk Sarees of southern India use heavy lustrous silk
and broad borders and elaborate pallus, with contrasting colour combinations,
which result in harmonious colour blends Kancheepuram, Tanjore and Kumbakonam,
are the important centers of Tamil Nadu. Sangareddy and Dharmaswaram in Andhra
Pradesh, Kolegal and Molkalmoru in Mysore, are also famous silk- weaving
centers.
Step 1: These are the "underneath" garments you
need to wear before tying a Saree - a waist-to- floor length petticoat,
tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring. You should not use elastic to
hold the petticoat around the waist as the elastic might not bear the weight of
the Saree. You have to wear an upper garment in the form of a tight fitting
blouse that ends just below the bust. The blouse could be short sleeved or
sleeveless. Its necklines can also be in different shapes and sizes.
Step 2: Now with your left hand hold the inside
end of the Saree material .Tuck the top border of the inner end of the Saree
into your petticoat starting at the navel, and complete one full turn from
right to the left. Make sure that the lower end of the Saree touches the
floor.
Step 3: Beginning from the tucked-in end start
making pleats in the Saree, starting at the right, about 5 inches
deep. Make about 7 to 10 pleats and hold them up together so that they
fall straight and even. All the pleats should be at the same height off
the floor.
Step 4: Tuck the pleats into the waist slightly
to the left of the navel, and make sure that they are turned towards the
left. Make sure the Saree is held there firmly. Tuck it in a little more
if necessary and you can even use a safety pin to hold it in place.
Step 5: Drape the remaining fabric around
yourself once more left to right, and bring it up under the right arm and
over the left shoulder so that it falls to about the level of the knees.
Step 6: The end portion thus draped is the palled, and can be prevented
from slipping off by fixing it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small
safety pin.
It is a feminine prerogative to beautify her.
Flowers, cosmetics, ornaments, gay colorful Clothing with these women down the
ages have created stunning looks. Many a man has been charmed, dazzled,
seduced, enchanted, bewitched, captivated, enraptured, and mesmerized by women
who can literally use clothes, jeweler and other accompaniments as weapons. The
Saree is a very unique dress. With only tucks and folds, it is worn in such a
way that it sheaths the body almost completely. The demure Indian woman,
covered from head to toe presents a picture of modesty. But, as women only know
how to, a Saree however all encompassing, can be gently pulled and draped to
hint at the alluring form underneath. It is the promise of what it enfolds
which makes the Saree a bewitching garment.
Different Steps involved in tying a saree:
To wear a saree, the needed accessories along
with the saree are matching blouse and petticoat. The blouse should be fit to
the body. Petticoat should be threaded with elastic or with cotton tape, to tie
it around the waist comfortably and it should be of ankle length.
First of all, put on a petticoat tightly around
your waist and take the inner end of the saree. Starting from left side, tuck
the upper edge of it into your petticoat in front and a little bit more towards
right hand side by leaving the remaining saree towards left side. Check the
lower edge of the saree leveled with the ground.
Now bring the loose (other) end of the saree
towards your right hand side around back by tucking the upper edge of it into
the petticoat till one fourth if right side.
Based on your height and taste, leave the end
portion of the saree which is called 'pallu' and place it over your left
shoulder. This upper boarder should slant across the bust from under the right
arm to over the left shoulder. After making the pallu, a large portion of the
saree is left. Turn this remaining saree into around 7 to 10 with the equal
breadth starting from your left hand side.
Pleating needs both the hands, with the right
hand holding the pleats and the left, supporting the forefinger at one edge and
thumb pinkie at the other edge of your body. After pleating, arrange them one
behind the other. The last one should be little broader than the rest. Pull
them up slightly for its smooth look and tuck them a bit more towards left
side. Make the lower end of the saree leveled with the ground as the
gracefulness of the saree depends mainly on these pleats. Getting a fall
stitched on the saree bottom ensures a better drape.
Finally you can leave the pallu on your left hand
fully without folds with which you can exhibit the loveliness of your saree
pallu. You can also make it stand on the shoulder itself by turning it
into pleats. We can make it firm with the help of a safety pin by attaching it
to your blouse.
