The Origin of the Exquisite Saree
The word "sari" comes from the root word "Prakrit" derived from the Sanskrit word "swastika," mentioned in early Jain and Buddhist literature. The Indian history of textiles traces the origins of the sari in the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished no less than between 2,800 and 1,800 BC in the western part of the subcontinent. It is part of the territory currently occupied by Pakistan. The earliest known representation is on a statue of a priestess from the Indus Valley, dressed in a saree.
Hindu sari in traditional murals
Old Tamil poems, such as the Silappadhikaram or the Kadambari, describe women dressed in sensual saris. In the Indian classical tradition and according to the Natya Shastra treatise (which describes dance and traditional costumes), the navel of the women is considered the source of life and creativity. Therefore the sari must expose the belly. Some historians of clothing believe that dhoti, a kind of wraparound brief and the oldest Indian garment, is the forerunner of the sari.
Origin and history
Sculptures from the Gandhara, Mathura, and Gupta schools (1st-6th centuries BC) are still around today, showing goddesses and dancers in a garment, which covers the legs widely, and then floats until marking a long and decorative fold in front of them. The bodice is not visible Hindu saree front and back. Other sources maintain that each day's clothing consisted of a dhoti, combined with a chest strap and a veil that could be worn to cover the upper body or head. A similar garment still exists in Kerala (South India).
Saree, today!
What is generally without exception is that Indian women have worn sari, shawl, and veil related outfits in their current form for hundreds of years. Sometimes the saris had even more ornamentation, such as party wear sarees. One can choose various types of embroidery, net saree with stonework, silk (Resham), or threads of silver, gold, or precious stones (zardozi). Low-cost versions of the Zardozi use synthetic metal strands and imitation stones, such as fake pearls and Swarovski crystals.
Easy steps on how to put on a saree:
Next, we provide the details to put on a sari gradually, following the style:
Put on a fake skirt. Firmly hold the top end of the fabric (on the inside) around your waist
Wrap the sari around the waist and firmly tuck the fabric to the waist of the skirt.
Adjust the fabric to your waist, keeping the same height, and when you reach the front, fasten the corresponding part of the sari to the waist of the skirt
Starting from the right, fold the excess fabric as many times as necessary in front of the navel
Make as many folds as you think necessary, although typically, their number ranges from seven to twelve
Grab the pleats and adjust the height from the ground to match it with the rest of the fabric
Tuck the top end of the pleats into the skirt to hold them in, and pass the remaining fabric over the back
Take the rest of the fabric with your right hand and pass it to the left side
Hold the fabric thoroughly with your left hand and make the necessary adjustments on the pallu with your right
Lower the pallu down your left shoulder so that the sari passes naturally to your back. You can use a safety pin to prevent it from moving. And enjoy
Handmade and decorated saris are much more expensive than machine imitations. Handloom saris are still famous as party wear sarees, in weddings and big social occasions. Check out our exquisite range of net saree with stonework.