by Dheer Kothari

Created on: July 13, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

THE INDIAN SARI

Right from the Vedic Ages down to the present, the tradition of an Indian sari is a kaleidoscope of color, design, intricate weaves, embroidery and sheer elegance. This tradition is rich in cultural heritage and is a fascinating story of myriad emotions and human enterprise. It elevates the holder and titillates the beholder. It commands respect and makes the person wearing it stand out in a crowd.

The sari (originally Chira in Sanskrit means cloth) is a rectangular piece of cloth usually 5 to 9 yards in length. It is the dress most Indian women are proud to flaunt as a symbol of grace and beauty. It is the dress of the rich and the poor cutting across all layers of Indian society. Its influence is now no longer restricted to the Indian sub-continent. The Indian sari is already an international phenomenon.

SARI AND FOLKLORE

The sari was at the centre of the unforgettable episode in Mahabharata, one of the greatest mythological epic of all times, where Draupadi (also known as Panchali) the wife of the Pandavas was humiliated in an open court by Dushasana who tugged at her sari to strip her. Lord Krishna heard her prayers and blessed her with an unending drape.

AN ARTIST'S INSPIRATION

Raja Ravi Varma, an Indian painter recognized for his illustrations of scenes from the Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, successfully depicted Indian traditions with European art techniques. His painting of a humiliated Draupadi is an insight into her mind on how she might have felt after being ill-treated by Dushashana. His painting of Shakuntala is a tribute to the tradition of an Indian sari. Shakuntala is the charismatic heroine of Kalidasa's (one of the greatest Indian poets) Abhijnana Shakuntala, a classic love story translated into several foreign languages.

AN INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR WARDROBE

There is a sari to match all occasions- a wedding or bridal wear, a birthday party, a get-together, a prayer meeting or formal office wear. Depending on your budget, you can pick and choose the fabric and the designs to match your preferences and figure. It is not enough to have a sari in your wardrobe, how you wear the drape is as critical to your beauty as any other fashion statement you make. Read this step-by-step guide to learn the art of wearing a sari.

If you want to own a sari, you need to know the varieties available and the sari you should be wearing for an occasion. The complete sari resource guide is a good starting point to understand the nuances of this ageless creation which has adorned the wardrobes of celebrities and commoners alike.

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