90 different varieties & styles of sarees from across India

1	What are the different names for Sarees in the different states of India?
2	How do we measure Sarees using our hands?
3	What are the different types of Sarees?
4	What are the different types of Sarees in different States?
5	What are the styles of tying a saree?
6	What are the types of Saree materials along with their origin and feature?
7	Kalamkari Saree Types and Occasion

People who invaded us through history have always been fascinated by the way women were looked upon in this land. Women have always seen as weaker strata of the society, in almost all the ancient places, and is treated as a slave.

On the contrary, this land from the beginning of the formation of gods there is equivalent or more action-oriented goddesses than gods. For instance, consider the following three gods who are the wives of the three major gods in India.

Saraswati, wife of Brahma
Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu
Parvati, wife of Maheshwar

These are the wives of the creator, who is Brahma, Operator, Vishnu, and Reincarnator Maheshwar. While the two of these three gods are meditating, the third one is depicted in a sleeping posture. Quire opposite to this, Saraswati is shown to be playing Veena, depicting knowledge, Lakshmi pouring us prosperity and Parvati blessing us with Power and Strength.

Furthermore, their attire is all synonymous with what they stand for. Let us elaborate on this a little further. Yes, we are going to be discussing the Saree that the women of this place have been wearing for a very long time.

It has very much been the identity of the women of this land to be associated with Saree. This tradition has been very well maintained (unlike the other gender) through the centuries. We can proudly say that women have been wearing this tradition that represents both her culture and the culture of this land.

Sarees are a type of clothes that carry great respect for them. They are woven and textured with pattern garments. They are appropriate for two main purposes of this soil.

Aesthetics
Climate

They have been attributed to an act of greater purity and simplicity.

Purity because of the very sanctity that it possesses and the respect that it demands
Simplicity because of the way it is made, the usage of the cloth to its whole

If you try to understand the way it is made, it is just a cloth that is of a rectangular shape, with different kinds of designs that are stitched in different materials.

You can also view this animated video to get to know in simple terms how to wear a Saree!

Sarees are diversified and are worn in different ways and styles in different places. They are also called in different names. But the beauty of unity in the land is the presence of it that is felt across the place, across the states, across the class, and across the different strata of the society.

Contents hide

1 What are the different names for Sarees in the different states of India?

2 How do we measure Sarees using our hands?

3 What are the different types of Sarees?

4 What are the different types of Sarees in different States?

5 What are the styles of tying a saree?

6 What are the types of Saree materials along with their origin and feature?

7 Kalamkari Saree Types and Occasion

8 Join the Movement for a Responsible India!

What are the different names for Sarees in the different states of India?

1	Uttar Pradesh	Dhoti, Lugdi, Lugga, Sari
2	West Bengal	Bhaaj
3	Bihar/Jharkhand	Dhoti, Luga, Langa
4	Odisha	Dhoti, Saarhi, Luga
5	Gujarat	Lugda, Sadlo
6	Madhya Pradesh	Jote, Lugda, Pata
7	Andhra Pradesh	Dhoti, Chire
8	Karnataka	Seere
9	Tamil Nadu	Selai, Podavai
10	Kerala	Pudava

How do we measure Sarees using our hands?

Sarees are measured using fingers and hands. A combination of the fingers and usage of hands make up the basic measuring units of Saree. These below three are the major measuring units of a Saree.

Fingers: Fingers are used to measure small measurements. One finger width is one inch. The measurements last till five finger width which will be equivalent to approximately 4.5 inches to 5 inches.
Hands: Hand spans are used to measure medium distances and measurements. One handspan is approximately 9 inches. This is measured from one side of the stretched finger to the other side.
Arms: For longer and faster measurements, arm lengths are considered. When we say one arm length it is from the fingertips to the elbow.

This video below will show you how you can measure using a handspan.

Each one of these measurements is used for a different purpose. Every one of those is important and comes in handy while measuring Sarees.

Like how they are measured, there are different types of folding systems in different directions, like North, South, and East.

What are the different types of Sarees?

Sarees are broadly categorized based on the

Fabric, Design, and Weaving Style
Wearing Style

Both changes with respect to places. A mild difference can be observed from one place to another that is closeby. Both ways we can classify the sarees into many categories. The way they change is mostly the same.

Let us first discuss the ninety-odd different types of sarees based on Weaving, Fabric, and Design styles, which is the former in our categorization above.

What are the different types of Sarees in different States?

Now that we have had a peek into the types of sarees available in India, there are some specific ways how some of the sarees from above have to be draped. This again is on the basis of places. Every place has a different style of tying a Saree.

What are the styles of tying a saree?

Please watch the below video to get an idea of how the same saree can be draped in different styles!

Let us see in the below table what are some of the styles that are categorized based on states and community.

	Saree Style	State	Community
1	Adivasi	Kerala	Tribal
2	Danda/Mundu	Kerala	Nair
3	Maar Kacha	Kerala	Nambodari
4	Chatta Mundu	Kerala	Christian
5	Kachi Kaili	Kerala	Muslim
6	Mohiniattam	Kerala	Dancers
7	Halaki Vokkaliga	Karnataka	Tribal
8	Gobbe Seere	Karnataka	Gowda
9	Mysore Shaili	Karnataka	Mysore Brahmins
10	Karnataka Kacche	Karnataka	Smarthas
11	Iyengari Kacche	Karnataka	Iyengars
12	Madhva Kacche	Karnataka	Madhvas
13	Bhootheyara	Karnataka	Nomadic
14	Coorg	Karnataka	Coorg
15	Yakshagana Mali Kase	Karnataka	Male Characters
16	Yakshagana Parvati	Karnataka	Female Characters
17	Yakshagana Kase	Karnataka	Male Characters
18	Dhangad	Goa	Shepherd
19	Christian Kunbi	Goa	Farming
20	Hindu Kunbi	Goa	Farming
21	Kalsi Dance	Goa	Konkani Brahmins
22	Koli	Goa	Fisherwomen
23	Kaatakari	Maharasthra	Tribal Agriculturists
24	Thakkar	Maharasthra	Tribal Agriculturists
25	Warli	Maharasthra	Tribal Agriculturists
26	Koli	Maharasthra	Fisherwomen
27	Marathamoli	Maharasthra	Maratha
28	Kaashtkar	Maharasthra	Konkan Working Women
29	Kaamakari	Maharasthra	Working Rural Women
30	Konkanastha	Maharasthra	Women of Konkan
31	Lavani	Maharasthra	Lavani Performers
32	Agari	Maharasthra	Salt Harvesters
33	Chodhri	Gujarat	Chodhri
34	Gamthi	Gujarat	Gamit
35	Dharampur	Gujarat	Rural
36	Dangi	Gujarat	Dang
37	Seedha Palla	Gujarat	Urban Middle Class
38	Parsi	Gujarat	Urban Mercentile
39	Jhabua	Madhya Pradesh	Bhil
40	Balaghat	Madhya Pradesh	Marar
41	East Chattisgarh	Chattisgarh	Central and east
42	Central Chattisgarh	Chattisgarh	Central
43	Surguja	Chattisgarh	North Chattisgarh
44	Surguja Dance	Chattisgarh	North Chattisgarh Dance
45	Bastar	Chattisgarh	Bastar
46	Seedha Palla	Uttar Pradesh	All
47	Pagadi Palla	Uttar Pradesh	Agricultural
48	Lapetavali	Uttar Pradesh	Rural Urban
49	Kasauta	Uttar Pradesh	Rural
50	Baun	Uttar Pradesh	Rural
51	Munger	Bihar	Rural Urban
52	East Champaran	Bihar	Rural
53	Purnia	Bihar	Rural
54	Madhubani	Bihar	Rural
55	Santal Pargana	Jharkhand	Majhi Kurmi Tribes
56	Ranchi	Jharkhand	Bedia Santar Tribes
57	Tukupani Simgeda	Jharkhand	Bedia Santar Tribes
58	Palamu Mahuadanr	Jharkhand	Majhi Munda
59	Hazaribag	Jharkhand	Munda Ganju
60	Ranchi Saiko	Jharkhand	Bedia Santar Tribes
61	Kalna	Bengal	Lower Middle Class
62	Santhal	Bengal	Santhal
63	Dhokna Jalpaiguri	Bengal	Mechh
64	Nadia	Bengal	Upper Class
65	Santhal	Odisha	Santhal
66	Kotapad	Odisha	Tribal Rural
67	Kuncha	Odisha	Tribal
68	Ghorapindha	Odisha	Tribal
69	Meher	Odisha	Weaving
70	Kaccha	Odisha	Dancers
71	Nadikattu	Andhra Pradesh	Weaving Agriculture
72	Venukagundaram	Andhra Pradesh	Kintala Kalinga
73	Addugundaram	Andhra Pradesh	Koorakulavallu
74	Gochi Kattu	Andhra Pradesh	Golla
75	Boggili Posi Kattikodam	Andhra Pradesh	Golla
76	Mudukongula Chira	Andhra Pradesh	Padma Sale
77	Mukkala Chira	Andhra Pradesh	Kapu (Agri)
78	Gudakattu	Andhra Pradesh	Newly Married Vaishnava
79	Kaccha Kattu	Andhra Pradesh	Older Vaishnava
80	Kuchipudi	Andhra Pradesh	Female Dancers
81	Pinn Kossavam	Tamil Nadu	Urban Working
82	Saurashtra Katt	Tamil Nadu	Saurashtra
83	Madisaru	Tamil Nadu	Iyengars
84	Bharatanatyam	Tamil Nadu	Dancers

Without the kind of materials, we might not be interested to wear a particular saree, or might not even know when to wear what saree.

So, let us see in the below table about the most famous types of sarees and the materials that are used to make them. These are selected from the previous tables that are famous across the country, that is to be worn at different times.

What are the types of Saree materials along with their origin and feature?

	Saree Type	Source	Material	Feature	Uniqueness
1	Baluchari Saree	Baluchar, West Bengal	Silk	Small Bhutti works on their body and wide borders	Depiction of mythological Scenes
2	Banarasi Saree	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	Silk and Copper, Silver, Plastic Threads	Intricate intertwining floral and foliate motifs	Goldwork, compact weaving, figures with small details, metallic visual effects, Pallus, Jal (a net-like Pattern), and mina work.
3	Bandhani Saree	Kutch, Gujarat	Cotton	Plucking the cloth by fingernails	Chandrakala, Bavan Baug, Shikari etcetera
4	Bomkai Saree	Bomkai, Odisha	Silk, Cotton	Design of Fish	Threadwork in the designs of the border and the pallu
5	Chanderi Saree	Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh	Pure Silk, Chanderi Cotton, Silk Cotton	Traditional coin, floral art, peacocks and geometric designs	Gold and silver brocade or zari, fine silk, and opulent embroidery
6	Chiffon Saree	France	Cotton, silk or synthetic fibers like nylon, rayon, and polyester	Both Manual and Machine	Hand printed using blocks
7	Chikan Saree	Lucknow, India	Muslin, silk, chiffon, organza, net	Delicate and artfully done hand embroidery	White thread is embroidered on cool, pastel shades of light muslin and cotton garments
8	Gadwal Saree	Gadwal, Telangana	Cotton body with silk pallu	Handcrafted woven sari style	The weave is so light that the saree can be packed in a matchbox
9	Georgette Saree	France	Crêpe fabric	Made with highly twisted yarns	Created by alternating S- and Z-twist yarns in both warp and weft.
10	Gota Saree	Rajasthan	Cotton Silk	Small pieces of zari ribbon are applied onto the fabric with the edges sewn down to create elaborate patterns	Gota is a gold or silver ribbon and lace from Lucknow
11	Ilkal Saree	Ilkal, Bagalkot, Karnataka	Cotton, Slik	Woven using cotton warp on the body and art silk warp for border and art silk warp for pallu portion of the saree	Joining of the body warp with pallu warp with a series of loops locally called as TOPE TENI technique
12	Kalamkari Saree	Andhrapradesh, Telangana	Cotton	“Kalam” or pen is used for freehand drawing of the subject and filling in the colors	Depicted deities and scenes are taken from the Hindu epics – Ramayana, Mahabharata, Purana and the mythological classics
13	Kanjeevaram Saree	Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu	Silk	Three shuttles are used	It is first separately woven and then delicately joined to the Sari
14	Kantha Saree	Eastern States	Cotton, Silk	Type of embroidery craft called Kantha Stitch	The entire cloth is covered with running stitches, employing beautiful motifs of flowers, animals, birds, and geometrical shapes
15	Kasavu Saree	Kerala	Cotton	Consists of two pieces of cloth, which have a colored stripe at the border known as kara	The festive occasion has golden colored borders or a broad zari border known as Kasavu
16	Kasta Saree	Maharashtra	Cotton	The word Kaashtha refers to the sari tucked at the back	Nine yards saree
17	Kerala Saree	Kerala	Cotton	A single piece of cloth	Cultural costume of women of the Malayali community
18	Konrad Saree	Tamil Nadu	Silk	Handwoven originally for Temple Deities	Does not feel like silk
19	Kosa Saree	Korba and Champa. Chattisgarh	Silk	Silkworms belonging to moth genus	Rich texture and natural deep gold color
20	Kota Doria Saree	Kota, Rajasthan	Silk	Royal fabric with fine arts	Made from migrated weavers from Mysore
21	Mangalagiri Saree	Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh	Cotton	Weaving with the help of pit looms from combed yarn by warp and woof interlacing	Nizam design is another characteristic of the fabric
22	Muga Saree	Assam	Silk	Larvae of the Assam silk moth feed on aromatic som and Soalu Leaves	This silk can be hand-washed with its luster increasing after every wash
23	Net Saree	Mughal Period	Polyester, Nylon	Open spaces	Different weaving patterns can be used
24	Paithani Saree	Aurangabad, Maharashtra	Fine Silk	Borders of an oblique square design, and a pallu with a Peacock design	Considered as one of the most expensive saris in India
25	Patola Saree	Patan, Gujarat	Silk	Double ikat sari	Once worn only by royal and aristocratic families
26	Phulkari Saree	Punjab	Silk and Cotton	The entire field is embroidered and filled with flowers	Starts from the center on the fabric called and spread to the whole fabric
27	Pochampally Saree	Bhoodan Pochampally, Telangana	Silk	Traditional geometric patterns in Ikat style of dyeing	Intricate geometric designs find their way into sarees and dress materials
28	Puttapaka Saree	Puttapaka, Telangana	Silk	Warp-based unlike most other ikats designed predominantly on the weft	Puttapaka tie and dye style of sarees
29	Sambalpuri Saree	Boundh, Odisha	Silk	Warp and the weft are tie-dyed before weaving	Incorporation of traditional motifs like Shankha (shell), Chakra (wheel), Phula (flower)
30	Tant Saree	Bangladesh	Cotton	Woven from cotton threads and distinguished by its lightness and transparency	Most comfortable saree for the South Asian hot and humid climate

The most sought after saree type is the Kalamkari. They can be worn on any occasion, event, time, party, etc. and here are the details of the types of Kalamkari Saree with the preferred occasion it can be worn on.

Kalamkari Saree Types and Occasion

With the above details, it comes to us as a clear indication that the whole culture is not different from the traditions our ancestors have left with us. This culture (read more about the diversity of Indian culture here) has been the only surviving one that has also evolved, following democracy.

By, all in all, we should not forget our roots, that being the diversity. If you happened to look at the complete article, you can conclude how strong are the roots of diversity in this land. Also, how strong we have stood united no matter what.

In the end, I would like to thank the womenfolk who have continued contributing, following the traditions and culture of this wonderful nation.

	Kalamkari Saree Type	Preferred Occasion	Image
1	Chanderi Kalamkari Sarees	Occasional Wear
2	Designer Kalamkari Sarees	Party Wear
3	Hand Painted Kalamkari Sarees	Party/Casual Wear
4	Kalamkari Border Sarees	Daily/Official/Casual Wear
5	Kalamkari Chiffon Sarees	Daily/Party/Casual Wear
6	Kalamkari Cotton Sarees	Casual Wear
7	Kalamkari Crepe Sarees	Official/Casual Wear
8	Kalamkari Georgette Sarees	Casual/Office Wear
9	Kalamkari Half Sarees	Casual Wear
10	Kalamkari Kerala Saree	Function Wear
11	Kalamkari Patch Work Sarees	Office/Daily Wear
12	Kalamkari Pattu Sarees	Function Wear
13	Kalamkari Printed Sarees	Official/Casual Wear
14	Kalamkari Silk Sarees	Party, Event Wear
15	Pedana Kalamkari Sarees	Daily Wear

90 different varieties & styles of sarees from across India

What are the different names for Sarees in the different states of India?