The sari is a large, seamless cloth traditionally worn by women in India and other countries. It can be worn in different styles to accentuate a woman’s curves and often expose the midriff. The sari originated from the dhoti and is mentioned in various legends. The most common method of wrapping a sari is the nivi style.
A sari, also called a sari, is a large, seamless cloth traditionally worn by women in India. The garment is also common in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and many other countries around the world. Historically, the cloth was woven from cotton or silk, but it is often made from man-made fibers today. The saree can be worn in a number of different styles, most of which are wrapped around the body and tucked into a petticoat. Pleats, tucks, and wrap methods are designed to accentuate a woman’s curves and often expose the midriff.
The sari is believed to have originated thousands of years ago in India with the dhoti, a large cloth that was wrapped around the legs like pants and tied at the waist. Although popularly known as a men’s garment, dhotis were probably worn by both men and women until the 16th century. In fact, the sari and dhoti may have looked very similar until the British colonized India and imposed European ideas of modesty. Both the dhoti and sari are still worn today, although dhotis are generally reserved for formal occasions.
Perhaps due to the British occupation, the Indians began to wear cholis and petticoats under their sarees. Before this time, there is plenty of evidence that women would wear sarees that would expose the abdomen and breasts. A choli is a fitted shirt that exposes the stomach and is often decorated with mirrors and embroidery. Today sarees are folded and decorated with stitched edges and embroidered designs. Traditionally, however, the sari was seamless because the bone needles in frequent use at the time were believed by Hindus to be impure.
The sari is mentioned in various legends. The epic Mahabharata told the story of Draupadi, a beautiful queen whose husband lost her to a group of men in a gambling match. When the men tried to remove the cloth from her body, they found that the cloth went on forever. This 5,000-year-old story is the earliest known reference to the sari. Another legend explains the origin of the garment, and tells of a weaver who dreamed of the feminine touch, mood, hair, and tears, and wove these aspects of women into one long piece of cloth.
The edges of the cloth are also decorated, as well as the end of the cloth that will show after the woman is wrapped. A saree can be worn in many different ways depending on the region, the time of day, and the personal preferences of the woman. The fabric can be draped to make a smock, shorts, pants, or a shorter skirt-like design. However, the available styles may be limited by the length of the fabric, which can range from five to nine and a half yards (3.7m-8.7m).
One of the most common methods of wrapping a sari is the nivi style. In this style, the fabric is tucked into the waist of the petticoat and wrapped around the waist twice, gathering the fabric to create pleats. The sari is secured back at the waistband, wrapped around the waist, and then slung over the shoulder. The navel may remain exposed or may be covered by a choli.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
