The country is divided into 25 states, each with its own language, Mehta says. The country has 57,000 of them. Each state also has its own fashion dictates regarding the colors, patterns, borders and wrapping styles of saris. India's fashions have changed in the past decade. Dresses and trouser suits have allowed working women increased flexibility of movement.
Dresses are more comfortable.
But saris remain the choice for weddings, funerals, special events and festivals, such as the sacred thread ceremony that marks the coming of age for young men. Each event requires a special sari, and the costumes may vary by state. Some of the finest saris are made of Kanjeevaram silk and come from the city of Benaras, in central India, Mehta says. Roma Mukherjee Melrose's father traveled to Benaras to buy her wedding sari when she married an American 12 years ago. That's the culture of my state, West Bengal.