One of the most important rules of Tamil Brahmin orthodox families is to wear the Madisaar or the 9 yards sari on occasions like - Upanayanamas (the son's mother wears one), Weddings ( the bride and the parents of the wedding couple), a Maavilakku day, Kaaradaiyan Nombu , Varalaxmi Nombu, Karthigai Deepam, death anniverseries... - the list goes on and on. But with our generation - the Gen X or the Gen 2k, during the times of occasions esp, Sumangali Prarthanai - we always have a queue in front of a room where 2 Tanjavur/Cuddalore maami(s) help all those newly wedded brides to drape the 9 yards, this is also the case with a few America/Mumbai /(or) cosmopolitan maami(s) too who have also lost touch with the art of draping a sari!
Tomorrow being Karthigai , i thought i would attempt the Madisaar while lighting the deepams. So, the usual thing - i started Googling - " How to wear a Madisaar?". Lucky me, i hit this site - http://www.nilacharal.com/anjarai/alangaram/madisar1.html
Somehow, to me how many ever times i wear it, i dont seem to have learnt it properly, i just forget! And always do with the usual 6 yards saree. This time am making a serious attempt with the 9 yards and i hope to master the art - the art of Kung-fu, manage that long saree - those twists and turns and bends and what not!
Thats the female part, the men's plight is even worse. The dictated dress for men during such occasions is the 'equally complicated' Panchagacham. The situation for all those 'Vi'dheshi boys, on the day of their weddings, standing shirtless and below is no better - the transy dhoti's Panchagacham. I very well remember a colleague of mine (in UK) asking me this qn as he browsed thr' our wedding pics, "You women are so gorgiously dressed, why is your husband half naked ?" :-) If ever i get a chance to meet the MD/CEO(s) of Ramraj Veshti or as a matter of fact - the Nalli Silks owner, i ought to ask him, "Poor boys - why can't you manufacture the non-transy Dhoties or the one with some lining..." ;-)
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hayyo hayyo... too much clothing too less clothing... India is a land of haves and have-nots .. the bride does not know what to do with the extra bit ...oh no daz an understatement... extra yards of silk..and the groom is in need of essential clothing... take my words seriously never try to adjust the saree .. u will end up undressing urself in front of the wedding crowd..
ReplyDeleteha ha very true! yen inda kuzappam, yen inda difference ? Now that ready-made madisaar's are in, in a few days i guess we wont have these issues! But what will the guys do, no alternatives for them so far?
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