The Maharashtrian saree drape, also known as the Nauvari saree drape, is one of the most prominent among regional drapes, having been featured not just in popular movies but also on the fashion runway.
This saree has a unique sense of fun that sets it apart from other saree types. It accentuates the curvy shape, allowing one to walk quickly, and lets one to sit comfortably on the floor or handle any amount of labour with ease.
During the Great Famine, it is thought that the women of the state began labouring in the fields alongside their husbands, and the sitting required them to tuck the saree in between their legs, creating this style.
Here’s how to go about it:
Remember that the Nauvari saree can be worn without a petticoat, therefore leggings that come up to the top of your knee, rather than below it, are preferable. Wear a blouse made of the traditional Khun fabric found in Belgaum, which is woven and quite thick and adds panache to any Maharashtrian saree.
In addition, the saree’s basic length is 9 yards, not the ordinary metropolitan length of 5 and a half metres that we wear. In reality, the nauvari saree is famous for its entire nine yards of length and is especially weaved, making it very popular not only in Pune and Mumbai, but all over the world, where the saree’s popularity has not waned among many expat Indians. Here is a way to drape it.
Step 1 –
Take the saree in the same manner as before, except that the pleats should be produced only by around one metre of the saree on the left side, then tucked behind.
Step 2 –
Make at least five to six pleats in the rest of the saree before tucking it in the front only.
Step 3 –
After the front pleats have been made and tucked in, the rest of the saree must be carried around the back, emerging at the front, and draped like a traditional pallu on the left.
The drape shown below is a traditional Maharashtrian style that has been draped according to the directions.
