The madisar is typically associated with Tamil Brahmins, with two sub-styles: the Iyer kattu (tie) and the Iyengar kattu (tie). Today, madisar is hardly worn as daily wear, although women do drape it on select festive occasions and religious ceremonies. This requires a nine-yard sari to wear it, unlike the regular saree that requires 6 yards or 5.5 metres.
Both Iyer and Iyengar Brahmins are supposed to wear madisars at these occasions: wedding ceremony, the Seemantham (a religious ceremony conducted for a first pregnancy), all religious ceremonies, puja, and death ceremonies.
The madisar styles differs between the two communities. Iyers drape the pallu (the layer of sari which comes over one's shoulder) over the right shoulder while Iyengars wear it over the left shoulder. Conventionally, the first madisar a woman wears is maroon or red in color, nowadays it's being worn in other colors according to people's wishes.
Wearing a madisar can be challenging due to these reasons: unique draping style, length of the saree, precision required, limited mobility, and cultural significance. This is especially true for those who are not familiar with the traditional method.
The WiMO readymade madisar saree offer a convenient and accessible alternative. It caters to the needs and preferences of a diverse range of wearers while preserving the cultural significance. Here's a video of the WiMO readymade madisar saree in both iyer and iyengar styles:
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