My Mum’s cousin by marriage, Rosie, loaned me her beautiful sari or saree. Her sari is dark magenta and beautifully decorated in gold at the tail end. I love the colours, patterns and textures in Indian saris and as I had heard that it was the Hindu New Year at the end of March I thought I’d ask my friend and fellow Soprano Olga Ivankina to take a couple of photographs in the sunshine in Glasgow Mid-March for Pascal Barnier to use in a New Year celebration picture.
I checked on-line how to wear the drape; it is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff. The fitted upper garment called a blouse or choli has short sleeves and is cut off at the midriff. The sari is associated with grace so I tried to get some graceful pictures. I tried to wear the sari in the Nivi style but I need more practise. The cloth is wrapped around the lower body once, and then hand-gathered into even pleats below the navel, the pleats are then tucked into the waistband, in my case my leggings. The effect is meant to give a decorative effect which poets have likened to the petals of a flower.
Whilst reading articles on India and it’s festivals I learnt that New Year is celebrated at different times from March 31st and throughout April dependant on the region and its cultural heritage. I would love to find out more and if you can help me out please add your comments to my post.
Hyderabad
Rosie originates from Hyderabad, the capital and largest city of Andhra Pradesh, South East India. I discovered Hyderabad is situated in south-eastern India 973 miles south of Delhi, 434 miles southeast of Mumbai and 350 miles North of Bangalore by road. It is one of the largest metropolitan areas in India. Hyderabad is situated on the banks of the Musi River and has a population of 6.8 million the fourth most populous City in India.
The nickname for Hyderabad is ‘City of Pearls’ as it was historically known as a pearl and diamond trading centre. It’s situated on hilly terrain around artificial lakes. Industrialisation in the 20th century has attracted major Indian manufacturing, research and financial institutions. It is the fifth-largest contributor to India’s GDP. A city rich with history and tradition, Microsoft and Google have their Indian headquarters there.
South Indian music and dances such as the Kuchipudi and Kathakali styles are popular in the region. North Indian music and dance gained popularity during the rule of the Mughals and Nizams. The nobility liked to associate with artistic courtesans called “Tawaif” whose role was to teach and promote singing, poetry and classical dance without the court.
Music still plays an import part in the city’s culture and alongside western and Indian popular music genres such as film music, the residents of Hyderabad play city-based marfa music, especially at weddings, festivals and other celebratory events.
The state government encourages the development of music by organising the Golconda Music and Dance Festival, the Taramati Music Festival and the Premavathi Dance Festival.
I could not resist adding this picture to close my post today as it reminded me of the time that I was talked into having a go on one of these reverse bungee trampolines by my brother, NEVER again 🙂 This one was at NTR Park and gardens in Hyderabad .