The Indian sari is an
article of clothing worn traditionally by the women in India. It consists of
one large piece of cloth, rectangular in shape, and averaging in length to
about six yards. The cloth is woven from cotton, then wrapped and draped about
the body, to end at the feet.
The sari, which originates from India, is more than
five thousand years old. India is the first place to grow cotton, therefore
using it to create their cloth for the sari. The mention of the sari in the
Vedas, which is the oldest existing text, shows its true historical longevity
and proof of origin.
The traditional sari is more than just clothing. There
was significant meaning and symbolism attached to the garment in the form of
different colors or designs. The various patterns and colors of the sari
depicted such information as beliefs, virtues, and the region the person came
from.
There were numerous designs and symbols used on the
traditional sari. The paisly and fish were used to show fertility. They also
represented the abundance of food and children. These patterns were mostly seen
in the coastal regions where the people survived on fish.
Designs in the form of an Elephant symbolized water,
fertility, wealth and good luck. It also exemplifies the god Ganesh who is the
remover of obstacles. The Conch was also a symbol of the gods and represented
the bugle used in war.
The use of colors in the sari has also had specific
meaning behind them. Red, used in the traditional sense is associated with the
warrior and a sign of valor.
The color black was
used to show sorrow or bad luck. It was probably for this reason that very few
saris were made of black. In contrast, there were many saris made of blue
because of the association to the working class. Farmers, weavers and manual
laborers were said to have worn blue.
One historical legend surrounding the sari, involves
Pandavas, a mythical character. It is said that his stunning wife Draupadi was
lost to the enemy in a gambling duel. The Lord Krishna promised to protect
Draupadi's virtue. The enemy tried to corrupt her virtue by unraveling her
sari, but they pulled and pulled, never to find and end, thus keeping her
virtue intact.
An old folktale about the sari, tells a story of a
weaver who dreamt of an attractive young woman. She had silky long hair and was
crying. His dream inspired him to weave a long beautiful fabric for the young
woman. When his work was complete, he was happy with himself and he smiled.
The history of the Indian sari is full of tradition,
pride, and innovation. It represents the culture of India and symbolizes their
way of life. The many ways that it is worn says much of its versatility and
durability. Today, the wearing of the sari is a representation of the
civilization of those before us.
As far as I am
concerned, the Sari is something that I like very much, especially when it is
used for Moroccan dresses. I find it original and full of creativity and
inspiration. The mixture of the colors and the way it is sewn gives to the
tissue a great value.
