Sarees - Nine Yard of Pure Grace and Beauty
A symbol of timeless elegance, saree has been wooing the world with its charm and grace since time immemorial. Loved by women from all walks of life, saree is probably the oldest outfit - tracing its roots back to the Indus Valley Civilisation in 2800 BC. Traditionally, sarees are worn by the women of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
An essence of rich and diverse Indian heritage, saree can either be an heirloom passed down through generations, evoking a feeling of nostalgia and memory, or merely an outfit worn on a daily basis. Be it on the streets or fashion runways, sarees have swayed and influenced fashion designers across the world. In fact, it is believed that the modern front pleat style of wearing the saree, with puff sleeved blouse and petticoat, was popularised by a Bengali woman called Jnanadanandini Devi who learned to wear it from Parsi women in Bombay in 1870.
With time, sarees too have evolved into various style and look, nowadays there are different kinds of sarees for different occasions, such as wedding saree, partywear saree, casual saree, bridal saree, saree blouse, designer saree and traditional saree. In fact, there are numerous options of sarees, in terms of fabric, patterns and techniques to choose from, all thanks to the tremendous craftsmanship and artistic finesse displayed by designers and skilled professionals working incessantly to make saree look more appealing.
Although this 9-yard of unparalleled charm has the power to make any woman look elegant, gorgeous and stylish, it is not easy to wear it and takes more effort and time to be draped. But once worn, it has a matchless beauty and charm. it is considered as the primary piece of clothing even in modern wardrobes.
In India, every saree tells a story of its region and culture as there is a significant meaning attached behind each traditional saree– such as Kanjeevaram silk sarees from Tamil Nadu, Banarasi sarees from Varanasi, Paithani sarees from Maharashtra, as well as Bandhani, Gharchola and Patola from Gujarat. Ajrakh from Kutch, Chikankari from Lucknow, Designer sarees, Drape, Choli Saree and Art Silk saree - the choice is endless. Even the work and design differ according to the preferences – right from the famous sequin saree, embroidered, weaved, printed, gotapatti, zardozi to diamond, pearl and zari work. This versatile fabric can be styled in both conventional and contemporary ways.
Saree has a matchless comparison when it comes to beauty, for it represents the rich Indian heritage and culture. The variety of designs, motifs and patterns etched on the sarees are the symbols of beliefs customs and creed of the people belonging to different parts of India. This unstitched garment ranging from 3.5 yards to 9 yards in length, can be draped in more than one hundred ways. In the end, no matter how and where you wear it, saree is definitely going to make you look graceful and stylish... Here are a few types of sarees to help you find your favourite one.
