My First Kanjivaram Silk Saree

This beautiful magenta and green woven saree is the first Kanjivaram/ Kanchipuram saree I own. This saree is a gift from my mother-in-law, given to me on my Mangala Charan/ Aashirbaad ceremony. However, it wasn't my sasuma's choice. My husband had handpicked this lovely saree from Pothy's in Bengaluru, though with a little help from my sister-in-law.

The body of the saree is bold magenta with large floral motifs all over in the same colour. The pallu is green in coloor with fine golden zari work all over. The dual-colour contrast is quite in trend these days. The best part of the saree is it's border. Look at the zari work which is not flat, but continuous rows in the form of straight vines with leaf-shaped motifs on it. The top has two rows and the bottom has four. The motifs are equidistant as well as alternately spaced.

The blouse piece that came along with the saree is green and of the same fabric. I got it tailored with a round neck in the front and a wide, deep-cut back. The tassels at the back of the blouse is in magenta and has been custom-made by order at a tiny shop in Commercial Street, Bangalore. I like to pair the saree with a long necklace inspired by the designs of traditional South-Indian temple jewellery.

This saree will forever be special to me, not only for the reason that it is my first Kanjivaram saree but also because it is the first saree my husband chose for me. Also, it is the first wedding gift from my mother-in-law and no saree shall ever be able to replace the feeling that I was basking in when she wrapped this around my shoulders.