The rich cultural heritage of a country as diverse as India reflects in many aspects of life including clothing. Indian attires vary according to the customs, climate and gender. Indian men’s clothing is radically different from those in the west, but it is the women’s dresses that stand out and represent the country’s heritage. Traditionally, Indian saree, salwar kameez and lehengas. In different regions of the country variations of these dresses are worn, such as Mekla in Assam, Paithani in Maharashtra, Bandhani in Gujrat and many such others.

One of the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of India is it’s traditional attire- saree. The origin of a saree can be dated back to the Indus Valley Civilization and tracked down history. A typical saree is a 5 meter long cloth of designs and prints which is draped around the lower portion of a woman’s body with pleats and worn like a skirt. A blouse or Choli is worn on top and the portion left after draping is called Pallav. This is used to cover the head which is an important part of Indian tradition. However each region of India displays a unique and very different style of draping. In Kerala women wear a two piece saree, while in Maharashtra the saree is usually worn like a dhoti. The Nivi style, Dravidian style and Bengali style of wearing sarees are also extremely popular.

Ideally a women’s wardrobe is incomplete without one saree from each region. A Benarasi from Uttar Pradesh, Kanjivaram from Tamil Nadu, Naranyanpet from Andra Pradesh, Mysore Silk from Karnataka, Tussar Silk from Bihar, Jamdani and Dhakai Benarasi from Bangaladesh, Baluchari, Kotki and Ikkat from West Bengal are among few favorites of women who adorn almost every occasion with their sarees. These cloths of heaven are usually hand made. The weavers weave together various kinds of threads to produce a piece of work which may take a few weeks to months. Sarees may also be printed or embroidered Sarees. Printed Saris can be made of Hand block printing, roller printing, Tie & dye, Batik or by “Kalamkari”. The Saris printed by hand block or screen are more prized than the ones printed in mills. There are many regional styles of embroidery in India as well. Each of these embroideries has names like “Kantha”, “Chikan”, “Parsi”, which are all done in different ways.

Saree is truly a symbol of India. Its long and flowing shape represents the various rivers flowing across the country. The rich hues of a saree represent the colourful culture of the country it originates from. Today sarees are also worn by international celebrities. It is a beautiful garment and is easily identifiable by anyone wearing it.

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LIMITED EDITION, SIGNED – 8.5″ square – Very Good+/ NEW hardcover/no dust jacket issued – color illustrations by Bapu – color photographs – b&w ills & photos – a step-by-step Hindu Wedding ceremony with full rituals and prayers in Sanskrit, with English transliteration and translation. The central section containing the basic ceremony is flanked by chapters on history and traditions, together with appendices on additional rituals; glossary, select bibliography and t… More >>

The Vedic Wedding: Origins, Tradition, and Practice: Including a Step-By-Step Wedding Ceremony in Sanskrit with English Transliteration a

Let’s Know Hindu Wedding Ceremonies : A unique tradition of life time relationship between man and w

Raksha Bandhan is an occasion which captures the unique and complex bond of love between Brothers and Sisters. The name itself means “bond of love”. Each year (Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi falls on 16th August 2008 this year) Sisters tie a colorful thread on the wrist of their Brother, which acts as a talisman to protect him. Simultaneously, the brother accepts to act as the protector of his sister throughout his life and renews this vow. 

With Globalisation and the spreading out of the Indian Diaspora, the biggest challenge was for Sisters to ensure that their Rakhis reach their brothers on time along with the mandatory “Tika” or vermilion and sweets. Brothers too needed to ensure that they send gifts to their sisters well in time for Rakhi. The problem was compounded by the need to physically buy Rakhis, often in foreign lands, getting them dispatched and then hoping they will reach in time.

However, with the growing acceptance of E-commerce in the minds of Indians worldwide, and proliferation of professional India-centric websites, specializing in sending Rakhis in India within 3-4 days, getting this important task done is far easier than before.

Websites such as Gujarat Gifts (http://www.gujaratgifts.com/rakhi08/send_rakhi_gifts_to_india.htm ) have been sending rakhi gifts to India for almost 10 years now, and each year, they send out thousands of Rakhis for Indian Sisters worldwide. The price? – As low as $ 2.95. Indeed, this is a classic case of the blending of modern technology with a timeless Hindu religion, which helps Brothers and Sisters in renewing the bond of love on the sacred days of Raksha Bandhan

If you are an Indian, and are away from your Brother or Sister, do ensure that you send your Rakhi Gifts to India with use of technology to deepen the bond of love.

Wishing all a very Happy Raksha Bandhan