Katha Saree Sagaram

It was sunshine after several days, so picked up this Saree 10  #100Saree  pact a natural dyed, coarse khadi Saree from Andhra Pradesh. This was from a farmer's market that once came to exhibit in Mumbai, all their wares from chillies to dals, kollu to crafts. Later one got to know of Malkha that runs a co-op that does production and processing at one place. Now, I go to Khala Ghoda festival every year looking for Malkha's khadi. It is also matched with a natural dyed kalamkari blouse.

This Saree 9 of the  #100Sareepact  probably lasted for a little over 15 years to find a place here. My first Maheshwari bought on the market road leading to Narmada at Maheshwar. Narmada and Maheshwar that was love at first sight. So were Maheshwaris. They are not as sturdy as Mangalgiris and Sambalpuris. But, will continue to romance them mainly in memory of streeratna Ahilyabai Holkar. For legend has it that it was she who promoted weaving there to take advantage of abundant cotton grown in the area. Today it has fallen into the hands of designers and boutiques making it an expensive commodity. Do head to govt owned Mrignayanis for discounts and deals.

It is a synthetic Saree 8 a rainy Sunday, some work first and then if that leaves the evening free to a concert. I love lehariyas, but unfortunately they fall short for me. So when I saw this blue lehariya kind of print at Garden picked it up, did my own designing with an unique border patch. An old double blue woollen thread necklace matched with it  smile emoticon   #100Sareepact

Purple looks like a blue n the picture...Saree 7 of #100Sareepact  is an old Kanchi cotton and the thin zari border in Chettinad style. Just kept asking myself, is it going to be a rainy day, am I okay with a cotton Saree. Well, it did rain before I left home, but remained sunny throughout and not bad I stuck to my choice. Have to add, the blouse is from another Bomkai Saree, not exactly matching  smile emoticon

Everyday was a Saree day at Kanchi but No time or energy to take pictures beyond this.... Saree 6 of #100Sareepact  also a Mysore Crepe with peacock feather self weave and a zari weave in it. Feels so cool and nice to wear. Matched with Kerala palaka malai. The eager faces next to me asking why only Saree pact, why no pavadaai pact. Priyardarshini, Karnataka Co-Op shop manager is one who would  give an occasional call, "madam, crepe aaya hai, kashida aaya hai"... a small shop in an uninspiring corner in a dusty, crumbling building. He has his list of clients and he does sell decently well, as the silk material he gets are so good, boutique ladies come and pick them up. A small, neighborhood jewellery shop - since he is in the middle of a large number of south Indian population, he makes sure to stock a few south designs. I just asked him if he can make me a Kerala palaka bangle, since I wasn't getting the kind I wanted from any of the big showroom at that time. H

It is a soft Mysore Crepe in a green I was looking for a long time. Found it at a Karnataka Emporium at a nice discount...Saree 5 is matched with a meenakari pendant  #100Sareepact  

Had to keep myself cool in comfortable cotton and at the same time look bright for the festival Saree4 is a Sambalpuri, and at once noticed the weaver had named this saree Mahalakshmi. The bright orange and yellow this is one grand saree. Next to Mangalgiri, Sambalpuris fill up my wardrobe not only because these two are my favourites, but also because of the Sambalpuri co-operative that was close to my house and later moved to Vashi.   #100Sareepact .   The recurring motifs of Odisha come from their temples, specially the wheels of Konark Sun Temple, the sculptures and of course the elephants for which Kalinga was once so famous. I have not kept a track of the saree names, but this one as I said before will always remain in my memory for the golden and pinkish hues of the saree is indeed Mahalakshmi.  Sambalpuri Bastralaya, I discovered on afternoon in 2005 in the small bylanes of Nerul, in a quarter this is not known for its hip new highrises, but old working class quarter

#Saree3   Come back to life after two days, it was so tough withstanding heat and it is all reflected in this photo taken on Sunday. Mangalgiri printed saree made me sit up and pose,   #100Sareepact   - Mangalgiri sarees are a great favourite though miss the sturdy thick weaves of old days. From the time of the post to this blog, definitely life is much better and also health. So adding some more to it - First of all to recount what my uncle, chittappa said. This is poomoggu design, thayirkaari pudavai. I didn't know that, and I also didn't pay attention to it when I bought. I have a few plain Mangalgiris, the thick, heavy fall they give and their long lasting quality makes them an eternal favourite. But, these new Mangalgiris aren't of that quality.  Kalpadruma is a shop I like to go to everytime I am in Chennai. They stock some nice Mangalgiri, Jaipur prints, fabric and some good sarees, though most of them are very pricey. I had on my previous visit like

Day 2 of   #100Sareepact   ...it is going to be puffed up face for next 10 days, but this is only about the sarees and not me. This is a 10 yard silk cotton from Savi Mami's....inaugurated today in celebration of Varadar Utsavam Dwajarohanam. Yet to get perfect drape, but managing. Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kanchi, one of the important shrines for Sri Vaishnavas referred to as Perumal Koil is famous for its Brahmotsavam, the annual 10-day festival. The Vaikasi utsavam here is so significant for the Lord’s avatar in the city is in Brahma’s yagnya and so when Brahma himself descends on the earth for 10-days to celebrate the festival. “He has come Merciful Perumal of Elephant Hill He has come   Perumal   To be seen before our very eyes in the city of Kanci” (Trasnslation from Meiviradamanmiyam of Swami Vedanta Desika from Steven Paul Hopkins’ ‘Singing the Body of God’)

Not a great photo to start the   #100Sareepact . But a great place to start, for  I am in Kanchipura, wearing a Kanchi pattu. This is an old favourite, a jamun coloured Saree matched with a new Khun blouse. I wear sarees for more than 100 days, and have been doing so for last 30 years. Inspired to start by Jayalakshmi P Iyangar   and   Harini Calamur . This saree has been around for more than 20 years, and that is very common for Kanchi silks, for the weave and quality has always been known for its strength apart from the beautiful colours and designs they created. Proud of the fact that we are "Thondai Mandala Vedhiyar" as our Guru would call us, for ancestors from both my maternal and paternal side are from the Kanchipuram district which was the great capital of Thondai Mandalam enriched by the Pallavas, who left an indelible impact on the city - Nagareshu Kanchi. 

#100SareePact I started this sometime in May this year during my annual sojourn at Kanchipuram. Initially I was reluctant to do so because I wear sarees for most of the year, have done so for most of my adult life and therefore I don't fit this pact. Also, I am too reluctant to get photographed everytime I wear a saree, and post them. I am too happier sharing pictures of birds and butterflies, ancient ruins, temples and deities. Later on it dawned on me that I can use this space, this pact to talk about the weaving traditions, about the sarees, the weavers, the people who sold them to me, my travels. So here it goes....