My saree story, writes Priyanka Chaturvedi

My affair with the saree began on a totally hate-hate equation. The months that preceded my marriage had my sisters and mum running helter-skelter to ensure I had all types of sarees as part of my trousseau. The Paithani, Banarasi, Kantha, Kanjeevaram, Patola....the options were in thousands thanks to India’s diversity in clothing! I’d never understood the fuss as I was sure I would never end up wearing any. The reason? Very obvious! Draping the six yard of cloth around oneself and managing to perfectly pleat it and get the pallu length right was near impossible. All this, followed by pinning it so as to ensure everything stayed in place, the petticoat under didn’t show or that the blouse matched the saree, added to the pain. 

After marriage, the attempts to wear a saree at social events led to really anxious and embarrassing moments for me, with the pleats coming off and me not realising it, times when I almost tripped over it as soon as I stepped out of the car or after wearing one ‘to die for gorgeous saree’ realising the length was too short for my 5’ 8” frame. 

All this on hindsight sounds funny, but it was exhausting and tedious to get it all together. So I decided that I must give my sarees a decent farewell and distributed them to those who wanted it. I thought that would be the end of my short lived affair with the saree. Both sides mutually happy with the riddance.

One thing that I have learnt in life is at most times best laid plans go awry. So was the case with the saree and my story! I rediscovered it, for work reasons, as an important wardrobe component a few years ago. But thankfully this time our milan was that of love and my realisation that it can be the most comfortable attire if I could just get more patient with the process. Patience as some would say comes with age, so be it. 

I learnt some cheats too about mixing and matching the top with the saree, crop tops taking the place of traditional blouse at times, taming chiffon and crepe to stay in place and to pleat a starched saree being at the top of it. Not mastered the art yet, but am getting there!

However, it is heartening to note how even the humble garment has managed to hold on to its own and also kept up with the fashion demands. The designers have also upped the fashion by making it more contemporary.

Also, how can one ignore the biggest contribution for saree-love coming from daily TV soaps? For the lovers of saree and also for the recent converts like me it couldn’t get any better with all the options available. Having made the case for every woman to buy and try a saree let me end the column by saying, "Long live the saree!"