Guest guest Posted January 1, 2003 Report Share Posted January 1, 2003 HPI ran this piece from Chennai News Asia, which reminded me of a discussion that was taking place here back in November (see Messages 3564, 3570, etc.): SARIS DECLINING IN POPULARITY IN TAMIL NADU By India Correspondent Smita Prakash South India is the treasure trove of silk saris with gold embroidery - the six yards of fabric has been draped in the same style for centuries. But more youngsters these days feel it's too cumbersome an attire for daily wear. Chennai in Tamil Nadu is home to the famous Kanjeevaram Sarees. These saris are essential to an Indian brides' trousseau. Here women wear it even when they do their grocery shopping. Saris are the preferred attire here and sari shopping is an important family outing. Colours combinations, the count of the silk threads, the pattern of the zuree borders, the authenticity of the gold threads -- all have to be checked and re-checked. Younger girls have for centuries worn what is known as the half sari. In Tamil it is called pavadai thavani, a skirt and half a sari draped over that. It is very elegant and something that mothers and grandmothers wanted you to wear, especially at weddings. But the thavani is no longer popular, not even the pattu pavadai or the silk long skirt. A sure indicator is that new malls coming up all across Tamil Nadu no longer display saris or thavanis on their mannequins. An entire generation of teenagers has taken to western and north Indian attire. In college campuses, jeans and salwar kameez can be seen everywhere. Saris have also had to share the limelight with pant suits and salwar kameez's. "I am a professional so I have to make sure that I am in a professional way, so I don't think that thavanis are more into a uniform kind of thing. I would have worn thavani but nowadays the trend has mostly changed into modern dresses like shirts, pants, jeans, that sort of thing," one woman said. Day by day the sari is becoming a rare commodity. Saris are now being reserved for special occasions. Go to a wedding or a music concert, rarely will you see women wearing any other outfit. However, the pattu pavadai, half sari can't be seen here. That outfit is really gone. It is hot and humid all-most all year around in Tamil Nadu. Wearing silk saris or long gowns is not really comfortable and even in tradition bound societies like in Tamil Nadu, women want comfort more than convention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2003 Report Share Posted January 2, 2003 This is sad. I hope that sari's catch on elsewhere, like in the West or something. I love my sari, although I'm glad that I have many, many choices when it comes to getting dressed! prainbow , "Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta>" <devi_bhakta> wrote: > HPI ran this piece from Chennai News Asia, which reminded me of a > discussion that was taking place here back in November (see Messages > 3564, 3570, etc.): > > SARIS DECLINING IN POPULARITY IN TAMIL NADU > > By India Correspondent Smita Prakash > > South India is the treasure trove of silk saris with gold embroidery - > the six yards of fabric has been draped in the same style for > centuries. But more youngsters these days feel it's too cumbersome an > attire for daily wear. > > Chennai in Tamil Nadu is home to the famous Kanjeevaram Sarees. These > saris are essential to an Indian brides' trousseau. Here women wear > it even when they do their grocery shopping. > > Saris are the preferred attire here and sari shopping is an important > family outing. Colours combinations, the count of the silk threads, > the pattern of the zuree borders, the authenticity of the gold > threads -- all have to be checked and re-checked. > > Younger girls have for centuries worn what is known as the half sari. > In Tamil it is called pavadai thavani, a skirt and half a sari draped > over that. It is very elegant and something that mothers and > grandmothers wanted you to wear, especially at weddings. > > But the thavani is no longer popular, not even the pattu pavadai or > the silk long skirt. A sure indicator is that new malls coming up all > across Tamil Nadu no longer display saris or thavanis on their > mannequins. > > An entire generation of teenagers has taken to western and north > Indian attire. In college campuses, jeans and salwar kameez can be > seen everywhere. Saris have also had to share the limelight with pant > suits and salwar kameez's. > > "I am a professional so I have to make sure that I am in a > professional way, so I don't think that thavanis are more into a > uniform kind of thing. I would have worn thavani but nowadays the > trend has mostly changed into modern dresses like shirts, pants, > jeans, that sort of thing," one woman said. > > Day by day the sari is becoming a rare commodity. Saris are now being > reserved for special occasions. Go to a wedding or a music concert, > rarely will you see women wearing any other outfit. However, the > pattu pavadai, half sari can't be seen here. That outfit is really > gone. > > It is hot and humid all-most all year around in Tamil Nadu. Wearing > silk saris or long gowns is not really comfortable and even in > tradition bound societies like in Tamil Nadu, women want comfort more > than convention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2003 Report Share Posted January 2, 2003 paulie, believe it or not, i never knew my grandson would love the 'saree' so much ! had i known, i would have packed more of these sarees in my suitcase- but, i only took two 'grand' ones with me this time on my trip in case we went to the temple! the day i wore my saree on our visit to the local temple , my grandson was full of admiration- he kept hiding under my long 'pallav' and playing 'peek-a-boo' ! he simply loved the flowing garment and 'the silky' feel of it... he kept saying- i luv patti (means grandma) ! also, he loves it when i wear all my jewellery speacially the 'jimkis' - gold dangling bell shaped earrings ! well, i do not think the 'saree' will ever go out of fashion ; may be they may come up with different versions of draping it ! i still think the 'saree' is the most versatile garment -well-suited for all 'body' types- the slim and the plump! love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2003 Report Share Posted January 2, 2003 Sari-some pro thoughts The baby took the sari for his or her mother from the body's smell left in it and when the mother wanted to put the baby to sleep she laid him or her on her sari made into a bed. Children used to tug the sari while sleeping. the sari itself served as the mattock cloth, especially for gypsies and village women. Women in olden days kept coins and currency notes in a fold of the sari. The sari served as a protection against outrage by strangers since with many folds it was not easy to assault the woman. The nine yards sari served as greater protection for the married woman and at the same time, gave a respectability so much so the married women did not have temptation. The design of saris gave plenty of scope for color schemes and promotion of art and handicrafts with embroidery and gave new skills and employment for women and thus paved the way for future textile designing as an industry. Some women kept the key bunch in the sari end knotted as a pouch. The sari must have developed from ancient temple sculptures and vice versa and thus maintained a tradition for the countries where sari was popular. The construction worker kept the end of her sari as a bun and carried basket of bricks on her head, and so also the street vendor of curds and green vegetables followed the same practice. Drowpadi's sari length delayed the damage and ere long kishen appeared. The sari sometimes served as the curtain in the homes. The sari fully covered the body and also protected the woman against sun and rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2003 Report Share Posted January 3, 2003 -thank you, yogaji for this beautiful piece! one more thing which is so fascinating about the saree is for those new mothers who want to 'breast-feed' their babies, the saree offers so much 'privacy' - so she can frelly 'breast-feed' her baby in public places withou feeling a sense of discomfort which a western dress will not allow! thank you as always! love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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