5 Marathi Saree Drape Styles

Marathi Saree Drape Styles

Maharashtra is a known state in India for its cultural, tribal and traditional clothing styles, in the drapes of sarees, which are followed by the women on traditional and festival events. Saree being the national attire has many ways of draping, classified drapes on states and their rituals and cultures. The tradition of Marathi women has been cherished by the female today also by styling up in the traditional Marathi saree and styling drapes.

Marathi saree can be draped in a number of ways, here I will be discussing and giving methods of 5 Maharashtrian saree drapes. This information is provided for an easier and simpler form of draping style of the Marathi style sarees.

A Marathi saree simply consists and is identified by its look.

•          Silk fabric and zari woven border
•          Border in golden zari weave in contrast colour and pallu also has horizontal borders
•          A Paithani saree, which has a zari weave pallu with parrot and chandelier motifs
•     All over the saree there are small butti form motifs scattered evenly.

      Let’s learn how to drape up traditional Marathi saree and different other styles of Marathi saree draping.

1.              Traditional Nauvari drape

This is a drape which is very well highlighted by its drape and cowls which make it attractive and traditional for the Maharashtrian style drape. In this drape the lower pleats are kept facing the right hand side.

• Start by taking the corner end of the saree and wraped the open edge from left to right, tying a knot on the right side waist.
•  Pick the lower corner of the small end and tuck it in the place by the knot.
• Now take the width to unevenly wrap the pallu section, from left to right front, under the right arm, passing up the left shoulder to throw back.
•  Make sure that the top edge of the width is longer than the lower edge in length, wich is hanging back at the back shoulder.
• Now make lower drape pleats of all remaining saree, of 5-6 inches and tuck it in centre waist but keeping the pleats faced on the right side.
• Part the lower pleats at the bottom to have the pleats more on the right side more and left side lesser, and draw the part backwards, between two legs.
• Pull up from back so it can be tucked at the centre back waist, make sure the border is straight hiding one side border under another one neatly.
• Now pick the right hand side lower drape pleat, and bring it across your left waist, and tuck in keeping 12-15 inches free to drop off.
• Then work on the shoulder pleats, take top edge to be sat firmly on shoulder, pin it.
• Then take the lower edge, in pleats and the set on shoulder keeping the back hanging pallu width in perfect straight level. Pin pleats at shoulder place.

This link of the video will help in guiding with the steps to follow them easily. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXWcNNaLx9o

      2.       Traditional Maharashtrian drape

The saree is worn at events and festivals, not only a silk saree would do but also nay saree can be used to drape up in this manner. Visit this page for a simplified method of knowing how to drape this TraditionalMaharastrian saree style.

• Start by making pleats at the waist and the tuck in keeping the pleats to the left hand and also facing left.
• Now drape the pallu over the shoulder in pleats of 5-6 inches of whole width, fix with a pin.
• Now part the lower drape pleats from bottom in centre, and hold the middle section pulling it back between the two legs, up from the back.
• Fix the border as it appears one border, then take pleats neatly in small width and tuck at the centre back waist. 

      3.       Peshawai Nauvari drape

This is another style of Marathi nauvari saree, which is also the Brahmini style drape, it is worn at festivals and also for traditional dance dress up. It has a curvy layer of border falling from the centre of the waist.

• The basic steps are the same, as the nauvari saree, all before making the pleats.
• The pleats are well set 1^st and held by a pin at the left shoulder by 7-8 inches of pleats.
•  Now when making the lower drape pleats, they are folded and tucked facing the right side, just before tucking the saree edge of one pleats should be taken and used for covering the pleats inside and the tucked at the waist centre.
•  Now making equal part of the pleats from bottom, pushing the border edge between the legs to the back, pulling the left sections edge to tuck in at centre back waist neatly.
• Then the right side pleat point should be lift in front to the top and tuck at front centre waist.
• The open edge to be lifted for tucking at centre, but making pleats of 3 inches on border which is facing left, in 4-5 pleats and then hold the saree fabric from left and let of border pleats, tuck the right hand held fabric in centre waist.
• This will create a zigzag or curvy pleat hanging form at the front
• Adjust the front drape of pleats across the shoulder hide the waistline on front.

    You may take help of this video clip which shows the draping method in details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XijYMjCKZYk

      4.       Marathi style drape - 1

This style can be worn at parties and as well as cultural events, festivals, to give a feel of Marathi saree style blending it with a basic drape making it more comfortable worn at regular events. Follow the steps below to get this drape.

• Start with taking the end of the saree of the left, leave a meter length free, and wrap around the waist bringing it to be tied by a knot on the centre waist.
•  After this, take the shorter end of the saree bottom corner and draw it backwards between legs, pulling up ad tucked in at centre back waist looking neat.
• Now take the width, make pallu pleats of 6-7 inches and wrapping around from left to right and front side, under right armhole to top left shoulder, Pin it in place.
• Then take the open left saree edge to form lower drape pleats, tuck them in centre waist facing left side.

      5.       Marathi style drape - 2

This is a variation of the Marathi saree draped by the ladies who did hard work, labour work, to find more movement freely and comfortable.

                                           

• Take the basic 1^st steps of draping a Marathi saree, tie a centre knot at the front waist leaving a metre length on left.
• Now tack the shorter end lower corner and push it between the two legs, and tuck in at the back centre waist very neatly.
• Now take the longer saree edge, making pleats roughly, of 4-5inches and pass the whole through the two legs at the back.
• Hold the width and re-fold the pleats and pull the section neatly and tuck in at centre back waist. Let most of the length of the remaining saree fall down after tucking at the back firmly.
• Bring the pleated remaining saree drape come in front from wrapping around from right waist to right again, in such way that you open the lower few pleats that it covers like a hip level skirt.
• Then bring in front and take across your left shoulder, re-fold pleats properly and pin in place.

These are the traditional Maharastrian drapes used by women for depicting their culture at festivals and cultural events. I hope you find this blog info useful to dress up easily in a Marathi saree drape. Look forward to find new drapes defined and described our upcoming blog.

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