Make Karva Chauth Most Memorable with Designer Saree
When the world thinks about traditional Indian women, they think about the saree worn by them. It is the commonly worn traditional dress among Indian women and with good reason. It is very beautiful and attracts a lot of eyes. The saree is a piece of cloth that is long and unstitched. In fact, ‘sari’ is a word derived from Sanskrit which translates to ‘strip of clothing. Other foreign countries also have a similar kind of clothing with a different name. A saree will usually be between 18 to 27 feet in length and is worn in a variety of ways depending on the region. A saree is most commonly tucked in the pelvic area and then it wraps the body with the center of it being in a pleated form and the opposite end hanging by the left shoulder. The saree is worn atop a petticoat which is known by many names like the Shaya in the eastern regions, the paavaadai in the southern regions, etc. The saree is mostly worn with a blouse called ravikkai in the southern states and choli in the northern regions. The blouse is versatile in style like the sleeve length, back covered or backless, etc. Sarees are made of two main types of fabrics and these are silk sarees and cotton sarees.
Origin
The saree can be first seen in paintings that date back to the civilization in the Indus Valley. Priests are depicted wearing a similar drape in historical documents. The incomparable beauty and grace of an Indian woman wearing this flowing gown are described in ancient Sanskrit and Tamil poetry and literature. Women are frequently seen in ancient sculptures wearing a garment that resembles the lungi that flows from the waist. Some of these characters wear a form of breast band known as the Uttarasanga, Stanapatta, Kurpasika, or Kanchuki. The saree was intended to cover the full body in some areas of ancient India, and exposing the navel there was frowned upon.
Ways A Saree Can Be Adorned
There are numerous ways a saree can be worn. One of the ways to style a saree has been mentioned earlier in this article. Some more ways are listed below:
- The Oriya and Bengali styles look elegant and graceful even though their saree does not consist of pleats. Cotton Sarees made in Orissa are of nationwide recognition.
- The traditional style of the Konkani and the Maharashtrians comprises sarees that are 27 feet and are tucked at the women’s back.
- The famous Nivi style adorned by the women of Andhra Pradesh is one of the most common styles of wearing the saree. The saree here is passed between the legs and goes to the back where it is being tucked. This is done so to allow for easy and free movement.
- The style established by the women in Kerala wear the Mundum Neriyathan which is a two-piece saree. The Mundum wraps around the pelvic area and the Neriyathan drapes over the left shoulder.
- The Rajasthani and Gujarati styles tuck in the direction that is opposite the central pleats and the other end hangs over the right side of the shoulders.
- The Madisar, or traditional Tamil twenty-seven feet podavai, calls for a complex process that begins with a series of pleats behind which is at the waist level, and tucks itself in front on the left side, the loose end is draped from the right shoulder, around the waist, and back to the right shoulder. Tamil Nadu is very famous for its silk sarees.
There are still so many ways to style a saree and the styles mentioned above are some of them since describing every style of saree draping would not be possible in this article. Also, the styles mentioned above are well-known traditional ways of draping a saree. The modern area has also come up with its spin on styling the saree known as designer sarees.
Read More About: Top 10 Saree Manufacturers in India
The Modern Saree Draping Style
The flap of the saree is often facing the front right side as it is tucked into a petticoat on one end. Following a single wrap around the lower body, the fabric is evenly pleated by hand. At the level of the navel, these pleats are tidily tucked into the petticoat. Once more wrapped around the body, it is draped across the torso with the free end resting on the left shoulder. The length of this loose end, also known as the Anchal, Pallu, or Pallav, can vary based on the wearer's preferences. Some people like to tuck the pallu around their bodies, into the left side of their waist. Some women will neatly pin the Pallu on the left shoulder after pleating it.
Famous Sarees of India
Over the years, various states have developed their signature saree and have made a name for themselves. Following are some of the most famous sarees all over India:
Banarasi Sarees
Banarasi sarees are historically known to be the sarees that are highest in demand. These sarees are well known for their excellent silk material, silver and gold brocade, and beautiful embroidery work. Some of the famous Banarasi sarees are the Jute silk sarees made of jute thread with a fabric of pure silk, the Valkalam saree which is expensive but highly appreciated for its delicate work, and the Katan saree known for its special silk thread wrapping process.
Orissa Sarees
Sarees found in Orissa are available in both cotton and silk material. The most popular sarees found in this state are the Ikat saree which utilizes a unique process of fabric dyeing. The Bomkai saree is weaved by the Bhulai community and the Sambalpuri saree also incorporates the ikat method of dyeing made by the people of Sonepur, Balangir, Kosal, and Sambalpuri regions.
Bengal Sarees
Bengal sarees are well known for their highly impressive quality of cotton and silk sarees. Some of these sarees are the Dhakai or the Jamdani saree known to have originated from Bangladesh. The Baluchari Saree is said to have been, for the most part, made in Murshidabad, the Tangail saree from Shantipur and Phuliya districts.
Assamese Sarees
The famous saree found in the state of Assam is the Muga silk sarees which are made from the Antheraea Assamensis silkworm. These moths' larvae primarily eat the leaves of Andsualu and Som. These larvae distribute silk that is renowned for both its long-lasting resilience and rich, glossy texture. However, the Muga yarn cannot be bleached or dyed due to its poor porosity. This has the benefit of preserving the fabric's original color and luster.
Gujarati Sarees
Some of the renowned sarees found in Gujarat are the Patola saree which utilizes a double Ikat style of weaving and it is one of the most famous sarees in India and the Gharchola saree which is the traditional attire of the women of Gujarat woven with zari and silk thread and commonly worn at religious festivities.
FAQs: Designer Saree
Q. How much does a banarasi saree cost?
Ans: The Banarasi saree comes in three variants of materials. These are pure silk, cotton and silk, and nylon combination. The price of a banarasi saree can start from roughly Rs. 4000 and can even go up to lakhs.
Q. Why is the banarasi saree so well known?
Ans: The saris are among the best in India, and they are renowned for their luxurious needlework, exquisite silk, and gold and silver brocade, or zari. The saris are relatively heavy due to the detailed engravings and highly woven silk used in their construction.
Q. Why are banarasi sarees so costly?
Ans: High-grade, pure zari, and silk threads, which are created from silver and gold alloys and are exceedingly expensive, are used to create pure Banarasi sarees. Additionally, time-consuming, and the weaving process might take weeks or even months. These reasons contribute to the original Banarasi sarees' high cost.
Q. Which is preferable, Kanjivaram or Banarasi?
Ans: Kanjivaram sarees, which originated in Tamil Nadu and are now gaining popularity in the North, are currently a woman's dearest companion. Since Kanjivaram silk is substantially thicker than other types of silk, the quality of the fabric improves with weight. Although they are more expensive, they are far more practical because they may be worn for a variety of occasions. Peacocks, parrots, sanctuary themes, and buttas are typical themes. They are incredibly appealing and straightforward to explain because of the delicate brocade work. Varanasi sarees are among the most beautiful and heftiest sarees due to their wealth in the erratic gold and silver brocade or zari work. They often take a month to complete because they are handcrafted and produced with the finest woven silk. The designs are often completely dissimilar from kanjivarams and are motivated by the Mughal era. Famous designs typically feature floral designs with mango and marigold accents and diagonal stripes. The barrier, which is frequently referred to as "Jhallar," is formed by a line of leaves extending upward. They are visually attractive due to their considerable use of goldwork, conservative weaving, and other small details.
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