The Beauty in a Sari
The five and half meters of colorful drape cloth wrapped around with bindi on forehead and carefully selected jewelry, flowers intensifying the charm is soul image of every Indian woman….
India is a country where one can find different cultures mix and mingles with each other and you get the fusion of these in every sphere right from foods to fashion to beauty. Well, here I will be talking about sari in fashion.
I think that there is something about sari that makes a woman so dignified and charming .It will be incomplete to look at a sari as just a piece of clothing and without its adorner!
Sari is just a reflection of everything that a woman is; this is a mouthpiece of every mood and mode of the Indian woman! I belief, that a sari carries the image of WOMAN….
The red coloured sari depicts the shyness and anxiousness of a bride, shiny golden borders covering head, depicts nothing less than Goddess, while, the soft silk falling off the shoulders is the sensuousness, the white starched and stiff is the feminist, the one tightly tied across the waist is the aggression and the portion which is wrapped on hip portion is seduction…
History tells that the origin of sari goes back to the period of establishment of civilization. Evidence says that the women in the Indus Vally Civilisation used to cover themselves with a long piece of cloth, drapped like a trouser. However, the word ‘Sari’ came from the Prakit word ‘Sattika’, which is mentioned in the early Budhhist literature. Later, the word got shortened and was called sati, which further evolved into "Sari".
Making a rectangular piece of cloth into a heart stopping attire is not an easy task! Rather, it’s a tedious process thoroughly enjoyed by the women as a celebration of her beauty. There are various styles of draping the sari. But the basic art is the same…the sari is first of all wrapped around the waist, then the slender pleats of the continual cloth are carefully tucked at the waist giving it a flow…. and then the cloth is slithers around the waist and covers the torso as it rests on the shoulder. The diversified culture in the Indian subcontinent has resulted in the trend of various styles of draping a sari and followed in different regions…
BENGALI STYLE
In this style the sari is worn pleat less. It is wrapped around the waist and then brought back to the right side and the pallu (called as aachal in Bengali) is then thrown over the left shoulder. The pallu is then brought up under the right arm and once again cast over the left shoulder. Many women tie a key-ring at the corner end of this pallu to give it a fashionable look.
MAHARASHTRIAN STYLE
Instead of the usual length of five and a half meters, the saris in this version measure eight meters. One portion of the sari is taken to draw up between the legs and tucked in behind at the waist and the other portion is draped as pallu over the bosom. Thus, it forms a kind of divided sari that allows a greater freedom of movement.
COORGI STYLE
In this pattern the sari is worn pleatless; first this is wrapped around the waist, brought back to the right side and then the pallu is thrown over the left shoulder. Again this pallu is brought up under the right arm and once again cast over the left shoulder.
GUJARATI STYLE
This style of draping the sari is commonly known as the sidha pallu style and is also found in the parts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. Instead of opening to the left, the pleats are tucked in such a way so that they open to the right. And then the pallu is taken to the back and brought over the right shoulder. This is then spread across the chest and the left edge is tucked in the petticoat at the back.
DRAVIDIAN STYLE
The sari in the version too measures nine meters. After wrapping this around the waist, the pleats are positioned along the left leg. Then, the rest of the sari is taken over the left shoulder, wrapped once again round the waist and tucked on the left side.
From the endless drape of Draupadi in The Mahabharata and till now the sari has evolved into fashion over the years! But now- a -days the saris are also becoming easier to wear and at the same time getting a more modern feel---with creation like pre-pleated and zipper saris! Yes, you believe it or not, the fact is that it doesn’t take an hour to drape a sari now and for this reason this has become a favorite fashion among the younger generation. So, what are you waiting for?? Just slip it on---pretty much like a gown or a pair of trousers---whatever may be and you are on the way!
I think that it will not be wrong to say that this five and a half meter cloth is something that runs across India and like a river, branches out at points and feeds every woman with a compliment of her beauty…
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Comments
I never realized there were so many different styles! Thanks for the information and opening me up to the culture a little more!
Thank you very much M.Dasgupta.
Thank you very much s.wilsom.I like your hubs.....specially the topic "Photos and Photography".
Wonderful hub, I really enjoyed reading about the different styles of sari.
I always think they look so beautiful and glamorous, and in contrast I always look totally drab in my jeans!
Great hub and voting up.
Thank you Movie Master for dropping this sweet comment and voting me up. Yes, if you just give a try with sari...you too will look wonderful! Previously there were traditional saris...but now- a days the designers has created many beautiful and easy to carry saris....
wow!! great i love sarees!! to draping nine yards sounds a bit too much but it looks awesome!! and so many styles!! great hub here
carrie
Amazingly done! I feel like I'm there to see the models. They looke confortable and practical dressing LORD
Hi carriethomson! thanks for visiting this hub.
Sari's are very sensual attire....u too can try these...usually all of the sari's come in the length of five and half meters!so its' very easy to manage....
Lovely descriptions of Indian sarees....
What a beautiful and very interesting hub.
Thank you so much for sharing and I vote up.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Hi Eiddwen,
your comments are very inspirational for me....thank your for voting me up...I like your hubs too...specially the hubs in "commercial n creative writings" and "pets n animals"...I will read the other hubs soon...
Bye n take care
Mahua
Very interesting hub.
I came to know the different styles pf drapping a sari. i will surely give a try to each of these above metioned styles. I vote up for you.
Thank you all for your nice comments!!
its well written and images give a good idea about sari
Thanks Dreamdairy!
Just Awesome! I am amazed by the different styles of drapping a single sarie...Actually am from Russia and you know where the style is different but a bit confused too as how one could draped such a long sari in her body..
After reading such an article as yours, every woman would love to own a sari..Thank you. Lovely.
Welcome to HubPages. Well-written and descriptive. Voted up, beautiful and interesting...
Interesting! Kudos to u for opening the door to hubbers on our Indian dress-style! Vote up.
thank you robert
msorensson---Thank you for loving this hub and leaving so beautiful and sweet comments...
Samsons1---first of all thank you very much for you inspirational words and taking time to visit my hubs!Again thanks for voting me in the up list!
Ishwaryaa22--thank you for you so sweet comments...your comments are very impressive...yes, woman can look beautiful in sari too provided she knows the art of drapping the same! thanks for voting me up.
Very interesting and beautiful Hub. I've always admired sari's and have always wanted to try one on. They are so beautiful I feel like they're sacred and since I'm not Indian I wouldn't want to offend anyone. I'm also 6' tall so I wonder if 5 and a half meters would be long enough : ) Thank you for sharing : ) Voted up, interesting, and awesome : )
Hi Jennifer,
It's very nice to know that you love to wear saris.It's not at all a problem...at first it will take a bit time to takle with a long 5 and halft meters cloth but as soon as u able to carry this ...you will be comfortable...n look beautiful in this...Come to my place...I will surely show you how to drape this...Thank your for your so sweet votes.
Good day to you.
bye
Mahua
Hi Lord,
I think I have missed to read your sweet comments...sorry for that :-(
thank you for liking this hub and the models as well...:-)I possible , one day I will show you how d models looks beautiful in a sari...
Have a good day...
bye
mahua
nice photos
Hi Mahua,
You have described the above so beautifully. I agree, Sari is the most elegant piece of indian women. I love it myself :) voted up as useful and beautiful.
This ia awsome i will abviously try a sari it is so interesting and radishing.
Hi Jennifier--thanks for your sweet comment!Yah....when you have time try a sari....really, I believe that this will make you feel happy and you will look bright and beautiful...
Nice Hub, useful for those who want to know about various styles of Sari. The photographs are beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Voted up.
These are beautiful - I didn't know there were that many ways to wear a sari. Voted up.
I can echo others in saying these are beautiful Sari. Very informative hub. Voted up.
thanks
mahua i olved ure hub pages and ure a really sweet person i tried a sari yesterday and i was so impressed u really are a great person
Thank you Yaduvanshi for sparing some of your valuable time in visiting this hub.
Ruchira--Thank you for your so sweet comments! Yes, I do agree with you that sari is the most elegant attire of an Indian women ( if properly draped!)I personally love this deeply...
Hi Jennifier,
It's very nice to hear from you that you tried a sari.... and love it....I personally love too but frankly speaking this takes a bit of time to drape properly...but once your are through with this then you will look gorgeous...believe me...
Thank you for sharing your views...
Have a nice time.
take care
bye
Mahua
Jainismus---thank you for sparing some of your valuable time to visit this page and voting me up...
Thank you Millionaire Tips for your sweet comments .
Cyndi10--thank you for your valuable comments which inspired me a lot.... and will maintain your valuable comments in my comments diary forever!
Great hub, nice description, voted up and shared in social media
Thank you Deepunetfish for giving me such a beautiful and inspiration comments.....
Very well bescribed the beauties of sari.....this hub will be very helpful for those who wants to know the different styles of drapping a sari...really you are very sweet lady Mahua....I wish you a grand success in your life as you make others life so beautiful!!!
M. Dasgupta 8 months ago
Nice description.