With Deepavali celebrations just around the corner, we shine a light on one of India's most historically and culturally significant garments
Growing up in Malaysia means being surrounded by a diverse society made up of various ethnicities as well as cultures that have existed many millennia ago; from traditional customs, beliefs and languages to food and dress, these are but a few aspects of our heritage that we've retained.
In fact, despite our differences, not only have we managed to maintain ancestries unique to our own cultures, we celebrate them with ethnicities other than our own, even during the years prior to our nation's independence in 1957.
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The sari, one of the oldest forms of Indian clothing, is one such ancestral artefact that has been maintained over 5,000 years and is a traditional costume in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Derived from 'sati', which is the Sanskrit word for 'strip of cloth', accounts of this handloom marvel date as far back as the Indus Valley civilisation (3200-2000 BC).
Though modern designs utilise all sorts of fabrics, most sarees are typically made from chiffon, silk, cotton and silk brocade. Much like the many variations of the Indian language itself, the drape of a sari can differ according to present-day trends, personal taste, regional practices and can be worn in over 100 ways as well.
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