| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Namaste"
and Hello! The red piece of garment that you see me wearing
is popularly called SARI.
|
| To
listen to music while you see me wearing this sari click
here(770 KB real audio) |
|
Those
of you who haven't seen a Sari must be wondering what it looks like?
This
page, which is long rectangular
in shape, and has a continous border both at the top and the bottom
of this screen, resembles closely with the Sari's physical attribute.
This
page layout is what "Sari" looks like when somone is not
wearing it.
To
find out more about
the sari go here...
|
|
This
is me without the sari. I am holding a Sari in my left hand and
I am about to show you how I wrap it around myself.
It's
going to be quite
a challenge because this Sari is very very long(about 13 ft).
So stay with me and we will have some fun.
|
| |
I
wore
my first Sari, when I was 4 yrs old.
I have no memory of that day but some photographs taken
by my parents are an evidence of that incident. |
|
The
sari was folded into half widthwise to fit my small
stature when I was 4 years old..
I
stood proudly with a handbag on my shoulder and a doll
in hand to pose for the
photograph.
On
the left is a prized photograph of mine from childhood.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Traditional
saris come straight from the weaver's
loom, they are handmade on handlooms even today. It
needs no cutting or stiching and yet the variations found
in its designs are endless.
|
|
|
There
is no record of stitched garments being worn in the Indian
subcontinent before the arrival of the Muslims
|
|
|
|
Saris
are worn over two other pieces of garment called the "choli"
and the "ghagra".Sort
of underwear if you will.
|
|
The
"Ghagra" or the "Petticoat" is a skirt
without pleats. It helps to tuck the Sari in at the waist.
|
|
I
have tucked one end of the sari in my "ghaghra"
as shown above.This will secure one end of the sari firmly
in place and allow me to use both hands to manipulate rest
of the six yards.
|
|
| |
|
In
my left hand I am holding the Sari which I will wrap around
me behind my back and then grab it with my right hand. |
|
|
|
|
The
"choli" is like a short top which covers the bust
portion. See an embroidered
choli.
|
Young
girls nowadays usually wear frocks, skirts or "Salwar-Kurta"
which are stitched garments, until they get married, after
which they wear Saris.
|
|
After the first wrap around I am now
holding the mid section of the Sari in my right hand while
my left hand continues to tuck in the Sari border all the
way around my back, just like it did in the front.
We
are now ready to move to the next crucial step of balancing
the far end of the Sari over my left shoulder without letting
it slide down to the floor. Wish me luck!
|
|
| Hindus
felt that
cloth cut and pierced by needle was impure. |
|
There
are also practical and social reasons behind wearing saris
in particular ways
|
|
| |
Thank
you for being with me so long. Your encouragement really helps.
As you can see, I have draped the far end of the Sari over
my left shoulder. I am holding it in my left hand. My right
hand is preventing it from sliding off.
The
ritual to drape over the shoulder involves another wrap around.
I have skipped that step for simplicity.
|
| |
|
|
|
The
concept of beauty in ancient India was that of small waist
and large bust and hips. This is evident in the sculptures
of those times.
|
|
|
|
|
Sari
was the perfect dress to show off those proportions. It emphased
the hip by the volume of draped cloth around and with the pleats
of the sari, which was tucked in at the waist
See
the History of Sari
|
|
In
earlier days the sari was worn without any of these undergarments.
|
|
|
Even
today, in some villages women wear Sari without the "Choli"
and "Ghagra".
|
| |
|
A
closeup of bindi
|
| |
|
|
This
is the side view of me with the Sari draped over my shoulder
with both hands free. See I managed to hang on to it without
letting it slide to the floor. You can do it too. Really! |
|
|
|
Wearing
a Sari is considered incomplete without the "bindi"
and the "Churi"(Bangles)
|
|
|
So
after two wrap arounds and a shoulder pushover, this is
how I look. In my left hand, I am holding a mid section
of the Sari which has yet to be taken care of.
|
|
|
If
you recall, we secured one end of the Sari in the very begining
by tucking it in. We then secured the far end of the Sari
by draping it over the shoulder. Now all we need to do is
to take care of the mid section and we will be done.
|
At
this point it makes sense for me to explain why the women'
s size is irrelevent when purchasing a Sari. You see, regardless
of the size, the two ends of the Sari remains the same and
are worn identically. It's the available midsection that changes
in size as you wrap it around yourself.
|
|
A
bunch of bangles
|
| See
the map of India with Saris from various regions. |
|
|
Accesory
for keeping the midsection pleats together
Click
on the above image to see a close up.
|
|
| |
|
I
have now arranged all available midsection of the sari into
neat little folds(pleats) which when tucked in, will secure
the Sari from end to end.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Draping
is now complete. This is how you are likely to see most women
wearing Sari.
The
shoulder pleats are further secured with the help of accessories.
|
|
 |
An
accessory to keep the shoulder pleats together.
Click
on the above image to see a close up.
|
|
|
|
