If there is any Indian attire
that describes the beauty of an Indian woman, then it is the saree. A Saree
represents the rich culture and heritage of Mother India in the global dais. In
the 21st century, many new contemporary dresses have come up for
women, but saree has continued to adorn women in the most elegant manner by
bringing forth her feminity and is till today the most preferred Indian dress.
There may be diversity in the culture
of India, but Saree is the most frequently worn dresses on important occasions
and festivals here. South Indians, Bengalis, Gujaratis, Rajasthanis, Marathis
and Punjabis; people from every ethnicity, wear this fabulous Indian attire.
Thus, we can say that a sari or a saree breaks all the cultural barriers and strengthens
the bond between people of all religions.
Origin
The origin of sari in India dates
back to 2800 BC, a period when the Indus Valley Civilization flourished in
India. It is said that those times, people used to wear lion clothes which were
long pieces of cotton fabrics. These clothes were worn in a particular way
where one end was put just beneath the two legs in order to allow free movement
of the body after wearing them. This particular way of draping a sari was known
as the Kachcha style.
Another interesting story related
to the evolution of Saree is when the Aryans visited India for the very first
time. They used to wear garments which were made of leather. In the subsequent
periods, when they finally moved towards southern India, they adapted
themselves to a new type of cloth known as saree. It was only worn by the
females and was known as Neevi.
Emergence
Until now, what was known as a
simple piece of long cloth which could be draped around the body, the saree was
making developments in terms of their appearance. As Persians came to India, they introduced the
art of weaving clothes and thus also incorporated this new styles in their
clothes. The Persian women began to wear a short jacket which covered their bosoms
and the upper parts of their body; it was known as choli. As time went by,
Choli became very popular among the women and it was worn by them as well as
girls of all religions and classes. Thus,
this new trend of wearing cholis soon graduated to the next level as skilled
craftsmen began to adorn them with precious metals and gems.
Modern day Sarees
Today, the picture is quite
different from what it was during the first time when saree came into use. Not
only has the material used in sarees change, but the way a saree is draped has
also undergone immense metamorphosis. A variety of sarees are available today in
the market like Georgette Sarees, Embroidery Sarees, Chiffon Sarees, Printed
Sarees. You will be amazed to know that a saree can be worn in more than 108
ways. It is a must to wear dress for an Indian bride on marriage and moreover
the saree is also emerging as one of the most stylish garments.
