Saris- A Attire then & Now
Introduction Sari is a popular garment that is worn by women belonging to South East Asia especially that of the Indiansubcontinent. A Sari essentially consists of a drape that is wound around the body in various forms. The typical feature of wearing a sari is to bare the midriff and fasten it in the waist area. A sari can be 4.758.23m long and 60cm-1.20m wide. The dimensions of sari determine the style of draping that one would carryoff. The modern-day version of sari requires some accessories that should be worn while draping it. These accessories include petticoat and bodice/blouse.
Sari as a part of culture Sari is regarded as an integral part of the cultures of nations like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It is also a prevalent dress for special occasions in Afghanistan. In the aforesaid nations sari is commonly worn by women for both special occasions and daily wear. The Indian-subcontinent has numerous types of saris. The sari has been made famous to the world by some of the strong female personalities like Indira Gandhi, SrimavoBandaranaik and many more.
History The historic records that provided the initial mention of saris date back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Various ancient sculptures from the Gupta, Mathura and Gandhar schools also depict saris in elementary forms especially that of drapes. The areas of ancient South India like Tamil Nadu, Kerala. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also showcase various stages in the evolution of the modern day sari that adorns the women of the current age in the Indiansubcontinent.
Styles Till date 80 styles of draping a sari has been devised. However, the common feature of wearing a sari includes tucking the garment in the borders of the petticoat on waistline and keeping the midriff bare. The loose end of the piece of clothing is kept over shoulders and is termed as ‘Pallu’ or’ Anchal’.
Chantal Boulanger, the Fresh anthropologist and researcher of saris has segregated the art of draping saris in some broad categories. These categories are Nivi Style, Bengali/Odia Style, Guajarati/Pakistani/Rajasthan Styles, Maharashtra/ Kastha/Konkani Style, Seree Styles, Gond Styles, Malayali Styles, Tribal Styles and Kunbi Styles. The current day fashion enthusiasts and designers derive the different formats of draping a sari from the above said styles only.
Sari in Western Culture Sari as garment is not confined to only the regions of South East Asia. During the decade of 1970s, the tradition of saris as brought to the United States. It was popularized by the store run by Eugene Novac. The store initially catered to the Indian women in New York. However, some of the American women also showed interest in wearing the saris, which they considered to resemble a full-gown.
The western women consider sari as an easy garment to wear and maintain since there is no requirement of stockings or girdles, yet providing the usual feminine grace.
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