The world of saree draping is incredibly diverse, with each style offering a unique and timeless charm. Among these styles, the Andhra style of draping stands out as a classic and enduring way to wear a saree.
In fact, the saree itself is one of the oldest forms of traditional Indian attire, cherished for its ability to bestow a complete and alluring look upon the wearer. It’s a signature outfit proudly worn by women across India.
India, with its rich cultural diversity, boasts a plethora of states, each with its own distinct style of saree draping tailored to factors like comfort, climate, and festivals.
But what exactly is a saree?
A saree is a piece of fabric, typically measuring between 5 to 9 meters, renowned as India’s epitome of grace and elegance. No other attire can rival the saree’s competence. It gracefully envelops a woman’s entire body while accentuating her natural curves.
India showcases various popular saree draping styles, including the Gujarati (sidha palla) and Maharashtrian (nauvari) styles. Among these, the Andhra style (nivi) is noteworthy for its timeless appeal.
In fact, Andhra Pradesh boasts several distinct saree draping styles, such as Nivi, Kappulu, and Gochikattu. Today, we’re introducing you to the ever-popular ‘Nivi’ style
Andhra style Saree draping
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Nivi Style Saree Draping
This style is widely worn in India’s other states as well as Andhra and worldwide. Because of its easy and comfortable style of draping, It has become so popular. The Nivi style of saree is one of the simplest to drape but does require some essential pre-requisites in the modern day.
For this, you required safety pins, a petticoat or under-skirt, and a blouse. We often see it in weddings, festivals, and other rituals. A Nivi is a very basic style.
If you don’t know how to wear saree perfectly, then watch this video below;
How to drape Nivi Style saree?
- First, wear Underskirt(petticoat). After wearing it, the first step is to tuck the saree at the waist from right to left. Ensure that the end falls are around the feet and are not too long and too short.
- Wrap it around the waist again.
- The short end of the saree (Pallu) is then gathered and made into even pleats and put over the left shoulder. The pallu is fastened at the shoulder to the saree blouse with a safety pin. The length of the pallu can be short in case the palla needs to be left loose and not fastened at the shoulder.
- Then gather the remaining saree and make pleats. Ensure that the pleats are aligned together so that it looks neat. And after this hold, all gathered pleats and tuck them into the waist and secure it with a safety pin.
Kappulu Style Saree Draping
This style is worn by older women of ‘Kappulu’ cast in Andhra Pradesh. But, This is quite a unique style of draping by women who live in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh.
Moreover, this style looks more elegant if it is in silk or by Handloom Cotton or Linen sarees which is famous in Andhra Pradesh. Also, Uppada is one of the few villages in Andhra Pradesh that prospers in handloom. Khadi Linen Sarees Online is also found in a style that can be opted for special occasions and can be worn in the draping style above.
When it is worn in silk with antique-style ornaments, It gives the truly ethnic identity of Indian attire.
How to drape kappulu style saree?
- Tie a knot on the left side from one side and part of the Saree with the saree from the waist. Lift the one side of the start edge from the middle and tuck it into the waist at the navel.
- Fold the remaining saree lying on the left side at the knot and wrap it to the center-back and tuck it.
- Fold the sari at this center back point and wrap it back around your waist to the front and make a big pleat at the center back. Wrapping all the way around the front and around the right hip to the center back again.
- Hold the center back spot on the top border and bring it around the front.
- Fold the sari at the center back point toward you and on the inside to form the first pleat and make narrow pleats towards the inside of the sari and bring them around back and tuck into the waist
- Tuck in the top border around the waist and back to the left hip. Gather the bottom border towards the top at the right hip.
- Grasp this bundle of pleats and twist it tight and tuck it into the waist at the right hip and borders may have twisted in the knot, But the only thing to make sure of is that you don’t twist the sari inside out. Form a nice fan of pleats across the lower back from the twist to the left side. And wrap nicely over your torso.
- Drape the pallu over the right shoulder and tuck it to the side waist.
Gochi kattu Saree Draping
This style has little change from the typical one. Moreover, The draping style is quite different. It is worn in Andhra Pradesh. Also, It can be a good mixture with the Maharashtrian saree. For now, we will show you how authentic Gochi kattu style is? In this style, Wearing a silk saree adds charm to wedding functions.
How to drape Gochi kattu style Saree?
- Tie a knot at the navel with the end of the saree on the left side and the saree around the waist on the right side.
- Take the remaining saree lying down and wrap once.
- After this, throw the end part of the saree(palla) on the left shoulder. Whatever length you can leave for the backside. Longer palla looks elegant.
- Then tuck the loose left-sided saree into the waist. Which loosely left around the waist.
- Making neat pleats starts from the left side to the right. It is a huge amount of pleats together. Then dust all pleats together so that they can be aligned
- Left one pleat and tuck into the waist at the navel and fix it with a pin. Then pull that one pleat towards the right side over the tucked pleats.
- Then band the front side and lift the side edge of pleats. Dust it properly then take the middle part of the pleats and pull it at the backside and tuck it into the waist. Secure it with a pin and adjust the backside pleats properly.
- Lastly, make a neat pleat over the shoulder which we roughly threw initially. Then after pin it to secure.
You are ready to flaunt the function.
Mukkala Chira Saree Draping
A speech varies by village and styles vary by region. Also, Mukkala Chira is an Andhra-style saree and adopted by some women. Thus, It is now a modern way to style.
How to drape Mukkala chira?
- Make a knot first on the left side. For this, take the end of the left side with the saree that comes to the navel. So that only the right side while saree remains.
- Lift the edge on the right side and tuck it onto the navel where you made the knot. The slant cowl occurs on the right side.
- Lift the remaining saree from the left side exactly near to your leg and start to make pleats till the fall comes, or you can leave 1.5 – 2 meters for palla then make bottom pleats. After that tuck them all into the waist at the navel.
- You will have the palla only. Pull it around the backside from right to left. Then after throwing them onto the right shoulder roughly, and you can pull the palla in front which is hanging behind.
Gudakattu
This style is quite similar to Mukkala Chira drape. Also, there are some differences to drape it,
How to drape?
- Tie the knot exactly similar to Mukkala chira at the navel.
- Pull the remaining saree to the backside. Tucking is different. Take the selvage at the right leg and pull it up and tuck it around from right to slight left
- Then make some pleats from the remaining saree and tuck them into the waist at the navel.
- The remaining saree is Palla and pull it around the waist and throw it on the right shoulder.
You can wear the Gudakattu style with dropped Palla and also can make pleats and pin it on the shoulder.
Indian Sarees are like women’s ornaments. As we’ve seen, there are different styles in different states or regions also. For instance, Nivi style originated in Andhra Pradesh, and it has become universal.
Saree will always look elegant in any style, so we have seen the main origin and its different ways to wear saree in Andhra style.