India is the home of a variety of traditional saree. From different materials like Silk, cotton, chiffon etc, to the wide range of price, different states in India too have their unique saree collection. While Uttar Pradesh is famous for its Banarasi saree, West Bengal for its Jamdani saree, Tamil Nadu is proud of its Kanjivaram sarees.
While each Indian saree has different material and design, when studied carefully each also has a different story to tell. They all come with a history that dates back to ages and has since been a part of the Indian culture, worn by the women during the festivities and celebration.
South Indian Sarees
South Indian saree designs are classic fashion at its best. Rich silk, appealing temple patterns on the borders, vibrant colours, complex motifs designs and heavy pallus enchants everyone and makes it the right choice for each woman. Each south saree has a distinct set of patterns and fine craftsmanship that characterizes the cultural wear in south Indian region.
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala — the five southern states – have a long tradition of manufacturing some of the most unique saree weaves and yarn combinations.
The earliest history of the states in this region reveals that this portion of India has always had an unusual legacy of weaving and handlooms. Weaving this 6 yard has evolved into an art and a thriving enterprise, that is immensely popular not only in India, but also globally. The six yard saree was, and continues to be the principal clothing among women there.
What Inspires The Designs on South Indian Silks?
There is a pattern in everything that surrounds us, whether it is the stars that adorn the heavens, the leaves that adorn the trees, or the swirls of the waves that lash the coast. This is not confined to nature; countless man-made works of art and architecture are embellished with elaborate themes, patterns, and designs that generously borrow from nature.
All these designs can also be traced in the craftsmanship of the south Indian silk saree loom, where the designs are inspired by temples, nature, mythology, history and more.
Temples
Famous for its temples like Belur, Thanjavur, Madurai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvanamalai, and Rameshwaram, the South Indian bridal sarees have special temple motifs that include the latha (creeper) and auspicious symbols of the mamidi (mango paisley), such as the konia (corner motif), hamsa (swan), gajendermoksh (crocodile), with pattad hasu (cow), pattad ane (elephant with upturned trunk), and pattad kudre (horse), as well as the gandaberunda. The most distinct one is inspired from the thousand pillar temple and is depicted as a series of Gopurams along the entire border.
Nature
Nature has always been part of Indian culture. There are gods dedicated to wind, sun, moon and more. The same is also reflected in the South Indian wedding saree where nature designs are a common sight. Some of the common designs include:
Floral Inspiration
Very often in South Indian Saree look, you will see flowers like rose, lotus, jasmine, both in the saree as well as the pallu. The bright colours with such designs add a beautiful oomph to the Indian sari. There are other leaves like the Pan patta as well as creepers that adorn the saree.
Fauna Inspiration
The second most common sight in South Indian saree look for wedding is the fauna which includes parrots, peacock deer, lion and more. A depiction of the various animals found in India, these sarees speak a lot about the Indian traditions of celebrating nature. Each animal symbolizes a virtue or is used to narrate certain stories. A pair of swans depict love, the lion depicts fierceness, the deer is used to tell tales about the forest and the elephant can either be linked to Lord Indra or to narrate heroic tales of kings.
Mythology
We are all aware of the rich mythology that India bestowed upon us in the form of various books and paintings. Taking a different form, these stories can also be seen in the south Indian white saree. From the pure love between Radha and Krishna, to the stories of Shiva, Ganesh and other gods, these south Indian saree designs depict them in the most subtle yet elegant way possible.
In the western saree look, beautiful saree blouses trend has taken off, with Gods and Goddesses embroidered on silk and kanjeevaram pattu sarees. In reality, this is a season’s trend for South Indian bridal saree and festive dress tops. You can find some lovely maggam embroidered God and Goddess pattern silk saree blouses when you look for south indian saree online.
History
South India has been an integral part of the Indian subcontinent, and since ages different rules have ruled the area, which is evident in their architecture, temple designs, food, festivals and culture. This rich history is also a common design in the South Indian saree images.
While some south saree depict the wars that were fought between kings, some also show the brilliance and the rich culture that different kings brought from around the world. However, most of south India has remained untouched from any kind of foreign rule. This has helped the region preserve its native beauty and pass it along generations.
Jewellery
Jewellery is an important ornament of a woman’s attire and taking inspiration from the jewellery worn by females in South India, the new age designers are also replicating the same in the South Indian saree style. The motifs in the sarees of this region are a tribute to exotic jewellery deisgns. The jadai nagam (serpent head), Vairam and Sailangai are some common patterns found across sarees. Inspired by the stones and their carvings, the weavers have incorporated them in teh fabrics as well. There are numerous patterns that depict diamond jewellry while the others display the beauty of stone encrusted in gold jewellery. All these designs draw heavy inspiration from temple architecture and frescos.
At Kankatala, you can find beautiful sarees that have gems, stones, bajuband and kardhani designs woven to enhance the beauty of the indian traditional saree.
What is the Significance of these Designs?
The south indian dress for women are manufactured using the best raw materials, yarns, and textiles, which is why many of them are considered heritage quality. The South Indian Sarees business covers it all, from the richest and most valuable silks to creative blended textiles (to fit all demands and budgets). The designs and motifs used are significant for the wearer and contain various beliefs. They have been eternal, and make the south Indian sarees an attire that adorns the beauty of each bride. The motifs of pan patta are considered auspicious for the newlyweds whereas the mango motif is a symbol of fertility.
Characteristic patterns and motifs that never seem to lose their allure, the use of excellent raw materials, and superb craftsmanship that has lasted the test of time distinguish sarees from South India. Despite its vast scope, the South Indian textiles and weaving sector is exceptionally creative and imaginative when it comes to textile arts and traditions.
Conclusion
The south indian silk saree is unmistakably present at all weddings. Choosing the perfect silk saree patterns for your big day, on the other hand, might be a difficult undertaking. We’ve compiled a list of the top designs for your big day to make your search for silk sarees for the wedding a little easier.
If you too are looking for some authentic south indian bridal sarees, visit the Kankatala website. With a wide range of saree filtered on the basis of material, occasion, and price, you will come across a collection of heritage. Offering the most authentic, elegant and traditional sarees, the Kankatala history dates back to 1940 and since has only emerged to be stronger.
