”It would be a loss to the whole world if the Indian woman should cease to wear her native costume. India is practically the only civilized country where one can see on living models how woman can and should dress“. (Carl Jung)
It is possible to live in Toronto and have never visited certain places. It was my pleasure to take one such person to “Little India” for a visit. We had a buffet lunch at the Gautama Restaurant which is one of the finest on this little strip now. The food was excellent. This lovely lady and I also went into almost all the stores there and she found herself fascinated with all things East Indian, from saris and sari fabric, to statues and other paraphernalia. Like myself, she likes to enjoy what she sees with the naked eye and then take a picture so she can revisit the moment later. Although I have been to “Little India” on numerous occasions, her enthusiasm and delight made me feel as if this was my first time there.
All the sparkles in this collage are embellishments of different kinds that are common on East Indian saris and lehengas. Many East Indian home furnishings are also lavishly decorated with sparkly decorations too. From time immemorial, women of all races and cultures have found novel ways to adorn themselves. This is no more evident than in dress.
The word “sari” is believed to derive from the Prakrit word “satticka” as found in early Buddhist Jain literature. It is thought to have originated from the Indus Valley civilization during 2800 B.C. to 1800 B.C. Many gods and goddesses have been sculpted wearing a style called the Odissi Fishtail wrap. The sari is draped around the legs and the Pallu hangs down the center of the legs lengthwise. Today the sari speaks of the resiliency of the Indian culture and their unique way of life.
As you can see, many saris are works of art with their elaborate embroidery, sequins, beads, and mirror work. It’s mind-boggling to think of the amount of work that must go into the making of each one. The saying: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” was true for both of us that day. We thought these saris were really beautiful.
I hope that you enjoy “Sparkle of India” as much as I did and that these beautiful sparkles embellish and add sparkle to your day in some small way.
