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here for what is a saree and how
to wear a saree
| History |
Five Thousand Years Legend has it that when the beautiful
Draupadi - wife of the Pandavas -was lost to the enemy
clan in a gambling duel, the Lord Krishna promised to
protect her virtue. The lecherous victors, intent on
"bagging" their prize, caught one end of the
diaphanous material that draped her so demurely, yet
seductively. They continued to pull and unravel, but could
reach no end. Virtue triumphed yet again in this 5,000 year
old Indian epic, the Mahabharat. Legend, fantasy, history or
fact, it is the first recorded reference to the enduringly
attractive SARI - the longest, most popular style in the
history of women's fashion.
Over the centuries, there have been changes. The diversity
of the Indian people is reflected in a variety of
materials used for a Sari and the way it is draped in
different parts of the country. In the South of India, the
nine-yard length is draped between the legs to fashion
flowing pants. The Coorgi's from central and South India
wear it to look like a modern western full-length gown and
some tribes use it to cover the topless. The traditional
six-yard sari, however, is a classic and allows for generous
pleating and draping around the body and over the shoulder -
almost Grecian in its elegance. The basic draping of a Sari,
the folding, tucking and pleating, is shown in diagrams
here. Beyond that, the Sari is an Indian woman's statement
to the world. It could be of shimmering silk or the finest
gauzy cotton. Perhaps a pastel-hued solid color or a riot of
woven flowers. It may even be embroidered with golden
threads, or finished with a richly tasseled border. It
speaks of romance or riches, of sobriety or gaiety, of
sophistication or innocence. Men are intrigued by the demure
floor-length attire and tantalizing display of a bare
midriff
in the back. It is said that a Sari rarely fails to flatter
a woman, making her feel fragile and feminine. It is an
instant fashion, created by the hands of the wearer and
subject to none of the vagaries and changes that plague the
fashions of the western world. For these reasons, an
increasing number of American women have begun enjoying the
simplicity, yet flowing grace of the Sari. The hostesses on
India's national carrier, AIR-INDIA, wear the traditional
six-yard Sari instead of a more conventional in-flight
uniform. The success of the Sari through all the centuries
is attributed to its total simplicity and practical comfort,
combined with the sense of luxury a woman experiences. The
Sari is mentioned in Hindu literature and depicted in Hindu
painting as far back as 3,000 B.C. A charming folktale
explains..."The Sari, it is said, was born on the loom
of a fanciful weaver. He dreamt of Woman. The shimmer of her
tears. The drape of her tumbling hair. The colors of her
many moods. 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." |
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