Saris of India

 

Elegance wrapped in 5 to 9 yards, the traditional Indian attire of Saree adds to a woman's grace and beauty in spades. Right from the historical records of the Indus valley civilization to the present day society, the Saree has held on to its cultural and traditional importance over the centuries.

Some forms of saree draping requires 5 yards whereas the kashta from Maharashtra needs 9 yards for it is draped in the form of a dhoti which gives the woman greater freedom of movement while working in the fields and also in training for any physical activities such as martial arts and sports. This saree is therefore called the Nauari which literally translates to 9 yards. Although the standard size of 6 yards ( 5.5 m ) is the most common one preferred by millions of women as their go-to attire. 

Across the country, the style of draping the saree changes as per custom and the geographical features of the region. 

The easy classification of this classic drape can be as follows - 

Saree Material ranges from Cotton, Silk, Rayon, Chiffon, Georgette, Wool to Crepe, Organza, Net, Jamdani Khadi, blends of various fabrics etc 

Work On the Sarees - Various types of embroidery, painting, applique, cut work, sequins, Crystals and mirror work, laces, kundan, beads, precious stones etc

Embroidery - Zardozi, Resham, Brocade, Kantha, Chikankari, Sequin etc 

Here is a list of sarees worn across the Indian States - 

Assam - Bodo, Eri Silk, Muga Silk, Gadu / Mirijim, Mekhela, Paat, Gari Diya 

Andhra Pradesh - Venkatagiri, Annibuta, Uppada Silk, Bandarulanka, Malkha Khadi, Bobbili Cotton, Dharmavaram silk, Kalamkari Handloom, Gadwal silk,  Mangalagiri Cotton, Mangalagiri Silk, Narayanpet, Pochampally, Ponduru khadi, Malkha Cotton, Uppada Silk 

Bihar - Bhagalpur Tussar Silk, Bawan buti Cotton Handloom Sari, Madhubani 

Chattisgarh - Pata, Kosa Silk, Champa Silk, Gond print, Baiga Cotton, Lodhi Lugda Cotton 

Gujarat - Patan Patola, Dhabla, Pachedi, Kuchch, Kharad, Tanchoi Silk, Tangaliya, Mashru, Bandhej, Ashavali Silk, Bhojodi

Goa - Kunbi 

Haryana - Panja

Himachal Pradesh - Kullvi Pattu Shawls, Galecha, Kullu Shawls, Gudma, Numdha, Thobi

Jammu and Kashmir - Kashida, Kashmiri Pashmina, Kani weave, Sozni Silk and Wool

Jharkhand - Tussar Silk 

Karnataka - Mysore Silk, Udupi, Ilkal, Navalgund Durries, Patteda Anchu, Molkalmuru, Lambani Cotton 

Kerala - Kasavu, Kasaragod, Balrampur, Chen amangalam Handloom

Leh and Ladakh - Challi wolen

Maharashtra - Paithani, Himru, Ghongadi, Kathi Saree, Karvath Kathi

Madhya Pradesh - Chanderi, Maheshwari, Bagh

Manipur - Moirang phee, Shaphee Lanphee, Wangkhei phee 

Mizoram - Mizo Puan 

Meghalaya - Eri

Nagaland - Angami 

Odisha - Bomkai / Sonepuri, Sambalpuri, Habaspuri, Pasapali, Khandua, Dhalapathar parda, Bichitrapuri, Kotpad, Santali Phuta, Suta Luga, Gari Diya 

Punjab - Khes, Phulkari 

Rajasthan - Gota Patti Jaipuri, Chunri, Kutch Bandhej, Ajrakh Bandhani, Gharchola Bandhani, Favri Georgette, Kota Doria Silk, Pichwai 

Sikkim - Lepcha 

Telangana - Gadwal, Teliarumal, Siddipet Gollabhama Cotton, Pochampally Ikat, Kandangi Cotton and Silk, Madurai Sungudi 

Tamil Nadu - Rasipuram Silk, Kovai Cora Cotton, Kornadu, Kanchipuram Brocade, Kodali Karappur, Kandagi, Arani Silk, Koorainadu Jamakkalam Poornakumbham Cotton, Tenkasi, Salem, Chettinad Cotton, Madurai Sungudi, Erode Kanjeevaram Silk, Chinnalpattu, Rasipuram Silk, Pochampally Ikat 

Tripura - Laisingphee 

Uttarakhand - Ahimsa ( Eri ) Silk 

Uttar Pradesh - Jamdani, Bhadoni, Mirzapur handmade dari, Agra Durries, Naqsha Brocade, Kimkhab, Banarasi, Kadhwa, Chikankari 

West Bengal - Baluchari Silk, Batik , Begumpuri, Dhaniakhali, Jamdani, Madur Kathi, Shantipur, Garad Silk,Tant

The mind-boggling variety in the choices available in Sarees has maintained its stronghold on the collective psyche of the Indian women who prefer it on all special occasions and festivals if not in their day to day life, though the vast majority do prefer it as their daily wear, over the other traditional and modern clothing choices available to them.

Picture source - www.onlineclothingstudy.com

Maharashtra in the Monsoon

 The state of Maharashtra is replete with amazing natural beauty be it the beaches by the vast Arabian Sea, the mesmerizing Sahyadri ranges, deep green lush forests, the konkan coast,  quaint little villages nestled in deep valleys, by the sea, cascading waterfalls on the winding ghats, sky touching peaks of the hill stations with stunning panoramic views of the undulating hills and mountains. All this becomes even more magical when the monsoon arrives. The views, mist, clouds, meandering streams, overflowing waterfalls have a loyal following of tourists who wait all year round for a chance to enjoy the rains amidst this unending beauty of nature.

Here are a few of the must-not-miss places for the monsoon-lovers ( in random order )

1. Amboli, Sindhudurg

2. Alibag, Raigad

   
   
   

3. Bhandardara, Ahmedabad

4. Bhimashankar, Pune 

5. Durshet, Raigad

6. Dahanu, Palghar

7. Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri

8. Harihareshwar, Raigad 

   
   
   

9. Igatpuri, Nashik

10. Jawhar, Palghar

11. Kalsubai, Ahmednagar

12. Kolad, Raigad

13. Kashid, Raigad

14. Karnala Fort, Raigad

15. Kunkeshwar, Sindhudurg

16. Kamshet, Pune

17. Khandala, Pune

18. Lonavala Pune 

19. Lohgad Fort, Pune

20. Lavasa, Pune

    
    
    

21. Mahabaleshwar, Satara

22. Malshej Ghat, Thane

    
    
    

23. Malvan, Sindhudurg

24. Murud-Janjira, Raigad

25. Mulshi Dam, PuneM

26. Matheran, Raigad

    
    
    

27. Panchgani, Satara

28. Panvel, Raigad

29. Raigad Fort, Raigad

30. Rajmachi, Pune

31. Sawantwadi, Sindhudurg

32. Shrivardhan, Raigad

    
    
    

33. Tapola, Satara

34. Tarkarli Beach, Sindhudurg

35. Tamhini Ghat, Pune

36. Torna Fort, Pune

37. Thoseghar Falls, Satara

38. Visapur Killa, Pune

The list is an assorted mix of hill stations, beaches, coastal towns, historical forts and numerous waterfalls. Combined with the chilly rain water, spicy corn cobs, and piping hot tea, Monsoon in the state of Maharashtra is absolutely magical to say the least.

Images - www.thrilophilia.com

Guinness Book Record - 50 million Trees planted by India

Trees are the lungs of our very unique planet, Earth in the sense that they filter the Carbon dioxide from the air and give out life-sustaining Oxygen. However, ever since the industrial revolution in the early 19th century the climate of the earth has increased by an average of 1 ℃ due to increase in the amount of Carbon Dioxide. Human activities like overpopulation and modernisation also lead to large scale cutting down of forests. Deforestation has been a major issue threatening the quality of life as well as the survival of quite many animal and plant species. 

The world as a whole has been looking at ways and means to increase the forest cover and try to contain and slow down the climate change. 

On 12 December, 2015, UNFCCC member countries reached an agreement to combat the ongoing climate change and to reduce the increasing temperature on the Earth.

Accordingly, India was a party to the legally binding international treaty on climate change. India has pledged to bring 12% of its landmass under forest cover to bring its total to 29% of forested area or more specifically 235 million acres.Concrete steps were taken by almost all the States with Uttar Pradesh managing to reach the topmost position worldwide by planting 50 million saplings in a single day which was a Guiness Book record.

The saplings were planted across forests, roadways, railway tracks etc. The plant species numbered to 80 with the number of volunteers at a massive  8 lakh people. 

Here are a few facts on the Guiness record set by India with regard to a massive reforestation drive in accordance with the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.

When - 11 July 2016

Number of Trees - 50,414,058

Where - State of Uttar Pradesh, India 

Number of Locations - 6146

Locations - Railway tracks, road side, public places and publicly owned forests 

Number of Volunteers - 8,00,000

Number of Species - 80 

Time Period - 24 hours

Amount - 6 billion USD

"The world has realized that serious efforts are needed to reduce carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of global climate change," Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh ( U.P )Chief Minister said in a statement to the press.

The Department of Forest and Wildlife, Uttar Pradesh Government has taken measures to keep a watch and thereby reduce the loss of the saplings as previously it had been observed that almost 40 % of such saplings perish within a few years of plantation.

The volunteers include citizens from all the strata of society, right from farmers, laborers, villages, students, government officials to housewives, teachers, professionals. 

Since the year 1990, about 420 hectares of forests have been cut down for human needs like agriculture, industries and more importantly for meeting the housing demands of the growing population. However, reforestation initiatives like the one in U.P. are bringing relief and results with the deforestation rate taking from 16 million hectares every year in the 1990 - 2000 decade to 10 million hectares per year in the years 2015 - 2016. 

The above record broke the previous one held by Pakistan of planting 8,47,275 in a day in the year 2013.

Pictures from www.lifegate.com