What is a Ceremonial Indian Sari?
by Jyotsna Kamat The Indian Saree (a.k.a. Sari, Seere, Sadi) is more than 5000 years old. It is mentioned in Vedas, the oldest existing (surviving) literature (3000 B.C.) Patterns of dress change throughout the world, but the Sari has survived because it is the main wear of rural India. 75% of the population wear the versatile sari. We can certainly call this cloth versatile because it is worn as shorts, trousers, flowing gown-like or convenient skirt-wise — all without a single stitch! Saree (original–Chira in Sanskrit, cloth) is of varied length. From 5 yards to 9.5 yards tied loosely, folded and pleated, it could be turned into working dress or party-wear. For day-to-day dress of middle class women, a 5-6 yard sari is comfortable to manage household chores. The working class tucks the same length above the ankles. If they have to work in water or fields, they tuck the front pleats between their legs to the back and tie the upper portion round the waist. This leaves them free movem
