I have aspired to wear a sari for as long as I can remember. It’s probably because of years spent watching Bollywood films and admiring Indian film heroines like Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit.
My favorite Bollywood actresses motivated my search for this mesmerizing traditional costume and continue to inspire me to this day:
“IT’S EXTREMELY SENSUOUS AND AT THE SAME TIME IT IS STRONG…THERE IS AN ELEGANCE AND AT THE SAME TIME IT TEASES YOUR IMAGINATION.” – VIDYA BALAN
The colorful saris only heightened the thrill of their dramatic poses, alluring facial expressions, and passionate film plots. Who could forget the classic scene of two lovers in the rain, with the female protagonist captured in a colorful, rain-soaked sari in her man’s arms?
Beyond Bollywood galore, the sari concept inspired me to explore India’s many cultural facets. When I embarked on my journey to India over the winter, I had my first close-up encounter with this distinctive piece of clothing.
The sari is a traditional costume for Indian women and has inspired women’s fashion globally. Its main feature is a long, unstitched rectangular cloth, four to nine yards long, draped around the body in various styles. All Indian women wear saris regardless of class or caste, though nowadays the sari is increasingly being replaced by Western outfits.
Luckily, in Tamil Nadu, where I stayed, many women still sport it. While wearing a sari all day is not very comfortable, especially for female students or professionals, few clothing items come to mind that embody the essence of femininity as a sari does.
As it turns out, buying a sari is not as easy as it seems! The most popular store in town was a considerable distance from my internship site. Vijay, my colleague, kindly offered me a ride on his motorbike. After trying on at least five saris in different colors, a task I could not have managed without a female employee’s help, I finally settled on a dark pink-and-turquoise floral-patterned sari.
The process of putting the outfit together is complicated, but definitely worth it. Deciding on the long cloth to wrap around your body several times is only the first step. One must wear a petticoat underneath, which must be bought separately and match the base sari color as closely as possible. The cloth for the tight-fitting, short-sleeved skirt, which ends just below the bust, must be stitched separately by a tailor.
Did I mention that no one in the store spoke English? Thankfully, Vijay translated much of the conversation with both the shopkeeper and the tailor. I wore my sari on my last day in India, when I presented my internship project at the local town hall. I hope to have the opportunity to wear my sari again, such as at international events or Indian celebrations.
During my stay, I did not see any foreign women wearing saris, even though some sported less-traditional Indian attire. I believe that an essential part of enjoying a cultural experience is becoming accustomed to traditional practices and costumes. An Indian woman, when asked whether she felt the sari would ever become an international drape, said: “You need a lot of patience to wear a sari. It’s in our DNA here in India. In the West, women wouldn’t understand how to wear and move in a sari…”
The sari is coveted by women on a large scale, even beyond its region of origin. Celebrities such as Elizabeth Hurley, Jessica Alba, and Fran Drescher have famously worn it. During her visit to India, Oprah Winfrey attended a sari fitting for a party, saying, “I really wanted to wear one. I wanted to know what that would feel like; I wanted to immerse myself in Indian culture.”
To appreciate the sari even more, one can add bangles, bracelets, earrings, decorative hair accessories, and, of course, makeup. In India, accessories are considered central to a woman’s identity. The ones I saw on many Indian women, such as gold and silver earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets, harmoniously complemented their saris.
In Tamil Nadu, one of the many customs associated with wearing a sari is adorning the hair with fragrant jasmine flowers. Every morning, women tie jasmine flowers into their hair after a warm bath. Beyond its aesthetic beauty, the scent of jasmine can reduce anxiety and promote well-being, according to Ayurvedic tradition. It is also believed that when a woman wears flowers in her hair, it will bring prosperity and happiness to the household.
Buying the sari in such a uniquely Indian way helped me experience parts of Indian culture at its core. Some may question why, as a non-Indian, I place so much importance on a traditional Indian costume. I believe that saris truly reveal a woman’s beauty and sensuality.
Because I take pride in my femininity, I am grateful for the chance to purchase a unique, timeless piece of clothing. When a woman wears a sari to an occasion, walking through a party with a smile and her head held high, she conveys a subtle yet strong aura of sensibility, along with a sophisticated appreciation of multicultural values.