Saree – Always Trendy, Always Appropriate Over the years, the saree has evolved to suit the changing lifestyle and preferences of its wearer. In spite of the growing popularity of western wear, saree still holds its ground firmly. Being the only garment that conceals figure flaws and brings out the best in any woman, saree is equally admired by both wearers and designers. It is considered the most sensuous, stylish and sophisticated attire even today. From Shimmering Silks and Elegant Chiffons to Flowing Crepes and Georgettes, available in vivid colors and embellished with the most intricate embroidery work, saree comes in the most mesmerizing avatars one can imagine. Such wide-ranging variety makes it suitable for all occasions – from weddings to formal functions and official meetings to social get-togethers. Moreover, it looks gorgeous on women of all ages and builds.

Tips for Saree Wearers

* Heavier women should wear fabrics like Chiffon, Crepe, Georgette and avoid Organza, Tissue and Cotton. This rule applies vice versa for very thin women who want a fuller look.
* Large prints and sarees with broad borders make one look shorter.
* Heavier women should wear straight cut, non-flare petticoats underneath the saree.
* Cotton sarees should be starched and ironed properly before wearing.
* For office wear, one should choose cotton sarees in subtle colours and prints. These should be worn with the pallu folded in pleats and pinned on the shoulder.
* Heavy silk sarees with golden thread work should be wrapped in a saree cover before storing.
* Always wear sandals before draping the saree.

Endless Draping Possibilities

A saree can be draped in innumerable innovative styles. Few of these styles have originated as regional preferences – Bengali style, Gujarati style, Maharashtrian style, and others like the Airhostess style to suit professional requirements. Rest are purely inventive ways of wearing the same fabric differently. Most popular style of draping a saree is the Nivi drape (reverse style). Here the saree is tied around the waist, close to the navel, with 6-9 pleats tucked into the petticoat at the front and the pallu draped over the left shoulder. One can choose to either pin up the pallu loosely over the left shoulder or try a more professional look with a pleated pallu firmly put in place on the shoulder.Another popular style is the Gujarati drape. It is different from the reverse style, in the way the pallu is draped. Instead of the left shoulder, the pallu is brought to the front over the right shoulder and the left corner of the pallu is tucked near the left hip.Then there is the charming Bengali style where the sari is tucked in at the left side and then stretched back to the right hip from the left shoulder. The pallu is then encircled around the back to come out below the right arm and thrown again on the left shoulder. Interestingly a heavy key is used to keep it in place.

These are just a few of the possibilities in saree draping styles. With a little creativity, it is possible to experiment and create different styles for different occasions.

However they wear Indian wedding sari, the type of Indian wedding sari also come in styles which are quite common to the place. To introduce the Indian wedding sari, it is a cloth with a certain length which is being wrapped around the body which follows a design or a pattern which is intricate.

The only thing that holds the Indian wedding sari are pins. It keeps the Indian wedding sari tucked in the body especially in the waistband. When it is wrapped around, there is a remaining part which is draped over the shoulder of the bride.

The “pallu” is known as the remaining length of the cloth when the sari has been wrapped around the body. This is known as the Indian wedding style of the dresses. The Indian wedding sari may come in a variety of colors depending on the theme of the wedding.

There are some Indian wedding saris that are cheap because the cloth that is used has a simple fabric while some of the Indian wedding saris are too expensive because of the property of cloth that is being used. Sometimes, some of the Indian wedding sari is being passed on as tradition goes.

When a woman is going to get married, some of the elders will pass on the Indian wedding sari that they have used during their wedding. This is the reason why Indian wedding sari is kept after the wedding ceremony. This makes it more memorable and for them, it brings some luck that can be passed on to the newly wed.

If you are not Indian but want to wear have an Indian wedding sari, you can have it if you want. However, it is quite hard to look for the sari fabric because you need to go to India in order to buy it. Some are sold in other boutiques especially from Indian boutiques. Most Indian wedding sari is colored red because it is the traditional color of a wedding sari.

The red color also represents happiness and good luck to the couple who are getting married. White Indian wedding sari will represent mourning for the Indians that is why they don’t go for it. No matter how you want to wear a white Indian wedding sari, you cannot wear it in India because for them, it represents sadness.

If you have been used to white wedding gowns, you will be surprised to see Indians wearing Red Indian wedding sari but its how they look at it. Indian wedding sari has been worn for a long time ago but nowadays, a lot of people are wearing saris and you can even see them everywhere.

Now that you know how a red Indian wedding sari is important to the Indian people, you can try looking for it if you want to have a wedding the Indian way. After all, wedding gowns have been common so why don’t you try to give it another taste. Wear Indian wedding sari on your wedding and wear it red.

Not only women, but Hindu men also wear a dot on the forehead, indicating their third eye. The pottu is a very auspicious symbol, reminding those who ear it of their spiritual heritage and ideals, wherever they may be. It also serves to identify a Hindu among the members of all other religions. Muslim girls often cover their face with a veil. Christian girls wear a cross. Jewish boys wear small leather cases holding scriptural passages. Men and women of a particular faith often wish to identify themselves to each other, and they do so by wearing religious symbols which generally are blessed in their temples, churches and synagogues. In many cases a dot on the Hindu woman’s forehead is similar to a beauty mark, just as European women used to wear a black dot on their cheek as a beauty mark. An unmarried girl wears a black dot, and a married girl a red one. Nowadays the dot’s color complements the color of a lady’s sari. “Wearing a dot on the forehead is largely a cultural symbol or a beauty symbol.” This may be a good answer to this question if the person who asked the question is a little shallow and possibly antagonistic.

Answer #1: The dot in the middle of the forehead of the Hindu woman is a beauty mark not unlike the beauty marks European and early American women used to wear on the cheek. Let me put one on you right now and then you can look in the mirror and see how it enhances your natural beauty.

Answer #2: In the old days, Hindu men and women wore these marks, and they both also wore earrings. The dot has a mystical meaning, for it represents the Third Eye or spiritual sight which Hindus seek to awaken through yoga. Today, only the most traditional men observe this, but women continue to follow these traditions.

Answer #3: There are many marks other than the dot that we Hindus use. Each mark represents a different sect or denomination of our vast religion. We have four major sects, Saivism, Vaishnavism, Saktism and Smartaism. By these marks we know what a person believes, and therefore know how to begin conversations.

Summary

Do not be ashamed to wear the pottu on your forehead in the United States. It will distinguish you from all other people as very special person, a Hindu, a knower of eternal Truths. You will never be mistaken as belonging to another nationality or religion. For both boys and girls, men and women, the dot should be small or large depending on the circumstance, but should always be there under appropriate circumstances. Naturally, we don’t want to flaunt our religion in the face of others. We observe that Christian boys and girls take off or conceal their crosses in the corporate business world.