A saree is the traditional attire of the Indian woman and it is worn by many women. It brings out a woman’s best features while covering her completely. It gives an air of elegance and sensuality, which makes a woman look even more attractive. In today’s age the woman finds it a little hard to wear a sari  everyday, but if there is a wedding or if it is festival time you can be rest assured that she will settle for nothing less than a beautiful silk with a lot of designs and embellishments in gold and silver thread.

A sari is a 6-yard fabric, which is not stitched but complete from end to end. Sarees today can be got in different materials. You can choose from silk, georgette, chiffon, cotton, etc. Silk sarees are most in demand for weddings and festivals with the Benarasi silk sarees in great demand.

It is easy to buy a saree but draping one is not as easy as it may look. It takes some practice and getting used to before one can get it right. A sari is not complete without two essentials-a blouse and a petticoat. The blouse should be a close fit. The length can vary according to one’s needs and preference and of course style. The petticoat should be ankle length and one must make sure that it has a strong tape threaded in to hold the sari and prevent it from slipping.

Here is an inside look on the intricacies of draping a sari neatly, in a step-by-step process from the accessories needed to the final drape:

In the first step, tuck the upper end of the plain end of the sari into the petticoat which is tied securely to the waist.

1. Wrap the sari around once going from left to right.
2. Bring the entire fabric around in front and make 6-7 pleats, with the pleats of one  length and falling in one even length to the floor.
3. Tuck the pleats into the petticoat a little to the left of the navel and hold it together with a safety pin.
4. Drape the remaining part of the saree around from left to right once more.
5. Bring it to the front and raise the saree pallu- the decorative end part of the sari over the left shoulder from under the right arm.
6. The pallu is draped over and behind the left shoulder and pinned to the blouse to prevent it from falling and preferably be knee length.

Sari draping is an art, which can be perfected with continued practice. It may seem a little confusing in the beginning but it is quite simple once you understand the finer details of how this beautiful garment can be used to give the wearer an elegant look. In a country like India, you will see that the sari is draped in different styles, which give an indication of the region or state that the wearer hails from. However, today, borders do not matter and you will see many women wearing saris in different styles, which are native to another state or even religion. All that matters when one wears a sari is that it should be worn with the grace and confidence that a saree naturally exudes.