The Disappearing Dress

Recently I attended a social function, where to my surprise, among the 300 odd women present, I was the sole one wearing a saree (barring a few 60 plus senior citizens).

It got me contemplating -why is the current generation so wary of donning our National Dress?

Saree is the most beautiful and graceful garment which flatters women of all shapes and sizes and ages. It is versatile, classy and can be worn for both religious events and swanky cocktail parties. It is the only dress which can make a lady look elegant and sensuous at the same time.

Our country has a rich cultural heritage with each state having its unique masterpiece which is traditionally worn. The Kanjeevaram of Tamil Nadu, Kasavu of Kerala, Banarasee of UP,  Chanderi of MP, Sambalpuri of Odisha, Jamdani of Bengal, Mekhela Chador of Assam,  Paithani of Maharashtra, Lehariya and Bandhani of Rajasthan and Patola of Gujarat and the list goes on…Endless varieties of fabrics, intricate designs, different weaves and prints are available. Our weavers toil hard to create these handlooms many times for meagre remunerations.

I have grown up watching my mother wear her awesome collection of sarees in spite of us being NRIs residing in the Middle East. I want to specifically applaud an amazing virtual group of lady doctors from India and abroad called “Doctors and Sarees” which is a platform to celebrate our national dress. Here we post pictures of ourselves in sarees with its description and inspirational write ups on myriad topics like art, culture, literature, philosophy, fitness, work life balance, etc. This group has contributed to my renewed zeal to wear a saree.

I don’t have any problem with other attires. In fact, I am a strong believer of “When in Rome do as the Romans do” that is- dress according to the occasion. So it's obviously swimwear on a beach, smart formals in office, jeans and tees on a picnic. But it irritates me when young mothers in their pajamas and unkempt, unshaven men in their boxers walk into my clinic with their kids. Yaar thoda to effort karlo to look presentable.

Nowadays wearing skimpy clothes is considered “fashionable” or “modern”. But just blindly aping the latest Western trends is not equivalent to being in vogue. Clothes should suit you and enhance your personality. Fashion is about feeling comfortable in your skin and exuding confidence. It is about making a statement with your own unique style. In fact, sarees can be paired with crop tops, shirts and blazers for a contemporary and chic look. Instead of overt skin show you can flaunt your intellect, humor and compassion.

Recently Alia Bhatt rocked the Met Gala in a beautiful Sabyasachi creation making her stand out among the crowd of gowns. I also admire Dolly Jain, a celebrity saree draper who holds a world record for some 300 different styles of saree draping and encourages us to experiment with the 6 yard long piece of fabric.

Let us do our bit to preserve and promote the Saree and revive its glory especially in urban areas. Encourage our daughters and daughter in laws to embrace the saree and not hesitate to wear this lovely garment. We should contribute to the welfare of our dwindling community of immensely talented handloom weavers who will become extinct if there are no buyers!

- Dr Angelica



      

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