Saree or sari is as reminiscent of India today as is the Taj Mahal.6 yards of cloth to be draped over the female body; the word derives its origin from the ancient Sanskrit language having the same meaning. The origin of the saree can be traced back to as long as 1800 B.C. It was first observed and noticed in pictorial representations of a priest having the drape over his waist in excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization. In tandem with the conservative Indian culture a saree covers the entire female body leaving the bare hands. The only exposed part is the navel. According to ancient Indian History, the navel of the Supreme Being is the source of life and creativity. Thus the mid riff of the female body is to be left bare by the saree.

The Saree is an unique piece of female clothing which is adorned by different regional settlements in different styles, having different regional names but all attributing their origin to the Saree. Strangely the Saree is the ideal representation of the very essence of India, Unity amongst Diversity. Different people, diverse languages and even diverse features but all united under the Indian tricolor. In the hills of Meghalaya and Manipur in the North Eastern parts of India it is worn as a wrap around the waist and a separate piece of clothing on the upper torso and it is called a “Mekhla”. Further down in the plains of Andhra Pradesh, native women folk pass the pleats of the saree between the legs and tuck it into the waist which allows free movement while covering the legs. Here the saree is called as “Nivi”. Bengali women, of the eastern part of India from the state of Bengal, so renowned for their beauty and traditional conservativeness are most renowned for their interpretation of wearing the saree as a continuous cloth covering the waist and legs and then passed upwards to cover the blouse over the bosom and call it a “shari or sari”.

However in course of time, traditionally Indian ethnic wear, the saree and salwar kameez and their extensions,lehenga choli have evoked Europe and America as a International fashion option and they have shown keen interest. Although Western women may find draping in a saree and carrying it off very cumbersome, but women are increasingly opting for and showing keen interests in such ethic wear. Today the saree is not limited to a plain and simple 6 yard cloth but available in heavily embroidered and ornamented versions and they even come in exquisite hand crafted pieces as well.

Zardozi, a form of embroidery uses gold and silver thread and pearls and precious stones as well. Today sarees are no more limited by geographic or cultural boundaries. Saree as a ethnic wear and a symbol of status is unanimous amongst women from both spheres of the globe.