Saree is a traditional dress worn by women in India. The term 'saree' is a corrupt form of the Sanskrit word 'chira,' which means a 'wearable length of cloth.' The saree is an unstitched length of fabric, five to six meters long, draped around the body. Saree is worn along with a blouse. The draping of the saree is an art and the style of wearing differs from region to region. The saree is believed to impart a look of elegance and refinement.
Depending on the styles, designs and the material used, sarees are categorized under different names. Silk sarees are among the most popular varieties and these encode the brilliant workmanship of the weavers of the country.
Dharmavaram,
Kanchipuram, Banaras, Arni, Narayanpet, Venkatgiri and
Mysore are the regions famous for silk sarees. Some of the other popular varieties are the tie and dye sarees such as the Ikats of Orissa and the
Bandhej or Bandhini of Kutch, the Tangails and the Baluchari of Bengal, Madhubani silk and cotton sarees, the
Tussar sarees of Assam and the
Gadwal and Pochampally sarees of Andhra Pradesh.
Sarees are available in a number of fabrics such as pure silks, cottons and synthetics in various colors and are embroidered, adorned with gold thread work or
zari, painting, cutwork and appliqué work.
