Indian Drapes: Unfolding Saree Draping Styles from Coast to Coast
Imagine the rain drumming in a steady rhythmic beat on the tin roof of your cottage. In such beautiful weather, when the world’s pace slows down like sloths, the only feeling that fills our heart and soul is the ‘Nostalgia’.
Bongs have the bad habit of being Nostalgic for everything, starting from Tagore to Alu posto, Mahanayak to Boimela, even the Durgapuja and its sarees. They put their sentiments into almost all the things they like.
Take, for instance, the Saree. Especially the ‘Lal pere sada saree’, which means the white saree with red borders.
No doubt it depicts the most authentic Bangaliana and its festivity.
But let me tell you, the way we proudly rant about the ‘saree’, for being our ‘traditional’ garment, but it is not entirely like that. It also undergoes certain colonial changes.
If we clearly study the saree draping methods from the different corners of India, we will get millions of proofs on this.
So let’s delve deep to understand that, and stay with me till the end, because it’s gonna be interesting.
The history of saree draping
Centuries ago, the saree was wrapped directly against the skin. No restrictive petticoat, not even tight blouses, were worn. It’s just the saree loosely hanging on the woman’s body.
Then came the Victorian era. To the snobby Britishers, this traditional draping style was considered ‘uncivilized’. thatswhy they started to teach the ladies to cover their bare midriff with fine and delicate muslins.
This is how the modern draping was born.
Jnanadanandini Devi, Rabindranath’s sister-in-law, played a pivotal role in popularizing this modern drape.
A story confirmed that the British once refused to let her into their club for her indecent dress sense. She couldn’t bear that insult. Later on, she adopted the blouse and petticoat herself as a part of her everyday wear. And advocated doing the same to others.
Most of the modern draping style is derived from such a modern draping technique.
Nauvari style saree draping
In the Maharasthra nauvari draping is generally seen as the common saree cloaking method. Here, the 9-yard fabric is basically draped between the legs, which seems like the women are wearing a pair of trousers using the saree.
This symbolizes the free movement of women and girls from the house to chivalry.
Athpourie drapping
Here, the pallu of the saree is thrown over both shoulders informally and easily. No pleats are made; the saree is only wrapped around the body in its simplest form.
The Ma-kakima’s of bengali household love to drape their saree casually in this Athpourie style so that they can do the household work comfortably without feeling the tropical heat.
Seedha Pallu drapping
In Gujarat, the western beauties generally drape in such a style to adorn the upper part of their body.
In this draping style, the decorative pallu of the saree is draped from back to front over the right shoulder.
Kappulu drapping
In Andhra Pradesh, a special counter-clockwise draping is famous among Telugu Ammayee. This special saree is draped left to right to create a more layered look
Kodagu drapping
In Coorg, Karnataka, the Pallu of the saree are dreaped as modern style, but the pallu is tucked in the back tightly, then it is brought over the right shoulder from the back.
Recently, in Rashmika Mandana’s reception, the way she draped her saree was the Coorg style or Kodagu style saree.
FAQs
1. What kind of saree draping style near me is famous?
The Saree draping style Bengali, is famous these days. But now, many saree draping classes are available online, which teach the saree draping at weddings and the saree draping at home in a professional format.
2. What does saree draping meaning in Bangla?
Saree draping meaning in Bangla, means the proper technique of tucking the pallu and pleats so that the wearer can move comfortably without worrying about the falling of the saree