History of Saree

The story of a Saree

A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine meters in length, which is draped over the body in various styles. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring her midriff.
Because of the lack of written documentation, we do not know how the ancient Indians came to make a way out of a substance, ranging from 5 to 9 yards. We know however that they specialize in weaving cloth with sophisticated patterns and vibrant colors have long fascinated people's fascination.

The Legend:

The legend says that when the beauteous Draupadi - wife of the Pandava - was lost to the enemy clan in a gambling problem duel, Lord Krishna promised to protect her virtue. The lecherous victors, intent on "shooting" their prize, caught one end of the diaphanous material that draped her so demurely, yet seductively. They continued to pull and unravel, but could reach no end. Virtue triumphed yet again in this 5000 year old Indian epic, Mahabharata. Legend, fantasy, history or fact, it is the first recorded reference to lasting attractive SARI - the longest, most popular style in the history of women's fashions.
The artisans make cotton thread high reeling and weaving cloth. The method of dying is practiced by making vegetable dyes from locally available plants mainly of katha color. The limit for Saris and motifs are woven with colorful thread, which is colored by the local method. The clothes are very durable and motifs are peculiar.

Sari is as old as civilization in India. Known records date back to at least before Christ. Cotton is grown and woven into the fabric in India five thousand years ago. The concept of beauty in ancient India was that small waist and large bust and hips, as is evident in the sculptures in these times. And Sari seemed to be the perfect dress to flaunt those elements that exposes the life of a woman, and emphasizes the waist and bust with the pleated fabric. Sometimes women wore accessories like Girdle (belt) to develop the design around the waist to emphasize the hip area.

The Indian Sare boasts oldest existence in the sartorial world. It is more than 5000 years old! It is mentioned in the Vedas, the oldest existing (surviving) literature (3000 BC) Patterns of dress change throughout the world now and then, but the Sari has survived because it is the greatest wear and tear of rural India. 75% of the population (now one billion per official estimate) wear versatile sari. We can certainly call this cloth versatile because it could be worn as shorts, trousers, flowing gown-like or practical skirt-wise - all without a single nail!

Sare (original - Chira in Sanskrit, cloth) is of variable length. From 5 yards to 9.5 yards tied loosely, folded and pleated, can be converted into working dress or party-wear with manual skill. For day today dress of middle class women, 5-6 yard sari is comfortable to manage household chores. Working out the same length above the ankles, and if they will work in water or fields, they would tuck the front was between his legs on his back and tie the top around the waist. This left them free hands and legs.

A nine yard Sare used to be a connoisseurs pleasure with embellishments, embroidery and gold design. At the same time it was as safe a dress as trousers. It was worn in the same manner as working Sare. But some doctors also covered the ankles. A gold silver or cloth belt was fastened which kept Pallu, (upper cover) and put the folds in tact. Jhansi's Queen Laxmibai, Belawadi Mallamma and Kittur Chennamma fought enemy troops on horseback, wearing sare this way. Tight you eat of the front seats in the back was called Veeragacche or soldier's tuck.

Overall climate of the Indian subcontinent is hot and humid. Sare and its male counterpart dhoti was most suited to this soil. Previously there was almost no difference between Sare and dhoti because men also liked to flaunt colorful Sare with brocaded borders. They can be together in needy times. Only the upper part of sare-length, covering the chest, left shoulder and sometimes head defects in sare for men.
Sare wearing styles vary from region to region. Gujarat style and Bengali style are different. So Mangalorean, Kannadiga, Kodava, Tamilian, Malayali, etc. Sare is worn for at least 10 to 15 styles throughout India, although the methods to carry used to be common. In Maharashtra and North Karnataka region, wearing one nine yards sare (without petticoat - long underskirt - which was superfluous) was in vogue until the 20th century. But the versatile sare was good enough to move through the waves.

Some people think that Indian sare influenced by Greek or Roman toga which we see on ancient statues. This is not correct. Sare is mainly Indian and designed to suit local conditions. Cotton was cultivated in India centuries before Alexander the Great landed on the border between India and Indian cloth (Chira or Sare) was a strange Greek eyes. Actually thought Herodotus and other ancient western historians, there were cloth growing trees in India!

Raja Ravi Varma, the distinguished painter of the 19th century, toured the entire sub-continent to find the ideal woman-wear. He wanted the best dress for the various goddesses he was asked and commissioned to paint. He chose one nine yards sare which drapes the body beautifully at the same time exhibiting contours of female anatomy - bust, waist, hips. Most of the female deities he painted are in this style.

Indian style sare, in India, most women wear sari. The sari is a long piece of cloth about a meter wide and 5 to 51/2meters long. Sari are draped over long skirts. A tight fitting blouse known as a choli is worn on the upper part of the body.

Saris of different designs and materials are available in a variety of colors. It is made of cotton, silk and other synthetic materials. The cost of the Saris varies according to quality. The outer end of the Sari or Pallu is most attractive especially on silk Saris.
Women in Tamil Nadu Silk Saris wear on special occasions. The Brahmin community bears sari in a slightly different way, without wearing the long skirt. The length of the Sari, which they wear is longer (nine yards) than the usual. It is wound separately on both legs in a proper way without restricting his movement.

Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu and Mysore in Karnataka are famous for their unique silk and cotton Saris.

Pradesh, Andhra is famous for its cotton Saris, designed by Jerry and thread. The Saris woven at Venkatagiri and Pochhampalli in Andhra are famous. Cotton Saris Bengal is ideal as a summer wear.

In Kerala, women wear their traditional two piece of cloth called mundu and neriyathu. The 'mundu' (one piece) is draped on the lower part of the body. The second piece, 'neriyathu' is worn on top, over a blouse as Saris. This mundu also called 'Settu Mundu' is the traditional costumes. Mundu It was worn in a different way, as the women of the royal families.

Saris are worn in different ways in many places, especially in Gujarat, Manipur, Maharashtra and Coorg (Karnataka).