Cotton, cotton weaving, and the creation of artistic weaves came to India from the Mesopotamian civilization. The saree, sari, or sadi symbolizes the Indian, Bangladeshi, Nepalese and Srilankan traditions. The word saree originated from the Sanskrit word ‘sati,’ which means cloth.
One can wear a saree in many different ways. The blouse can be long or short, depending on the type of saree that you wear. Old sculptures depict a wide variety of sarees worn by women. The history of the saree dates back to 2800-1800 BC, the time of the Indus Valley Civilization. It is the oldest piece of un-stitched clothing ever known.
There are innumerable types of sarees available in the market, and the women from different states in our country wear sarees in many different ways.
The Indian Saree:
India, a land of many cultures, religions, and languages, has so many types of sarees available to women. Every state is famous for its own kind of saree. There are various styles of wearing a saree, but the most common one is where the women tie it around their waist and drape the saree over their shoulder.
Every Indian state has its own way of wearing this traditional attire.
The South Indian sarees:
The most famous bridal sarees of South India is the Kanjeevaram saree, which comes from Kanchipuram in Tamilnadu. Checks, temple borders, stripes are the traditional designs found on this type of saree.
Pattu saree comes from the Kerala region of South India. They vary depending on the pattern, color, and threading patterns. Pochampally saree comes from the Telangana state. The fabric is a fine mix of silk and cotton.
The North Indian saree:
Paithani is the most famous North Indian saree, which comes from Maharashtra. Handwoven and made from the finest silk, these are regarded as one of the richest Indian sarees. Square or peacock design is generally found on this type of saree.
The Banarasi saree is another one of the most famous saree in India. Well known for their bright colors and texture, they are popular bridal sarees of the Northern states. What is so special about these sarees is that they have heavy golden embroidery and give a grand look.
The Sambalpuri saree is a traditional handwoven saree from Orissa. They are known for their tye-dye art and traditional symbols such as the wheel, shell, or flowers.
From UP or Rajasthan, the Gota saree is a special type of saree because of the unique lace attached to the borders.
Assam Silk saree is one of the best silk saree in the country. These sarees are well known for their threadwork.
Chanderi saree from Madhya Pradesh is special because of its tissue silk.
Rajasthan’s Kota saree is just simple cotton. They are simple enough to be worn at home and, at the same time, elegant enough that you can wear them to a function.
So get out there and pick a saree from the plethora of options available and slay the goddess that dwells in you!
