Community drapes
The Madisar
A nine yard saree worn with the pleats passed between the legs, by Tamil Brahmin women for rituals and weddings.
Presented by ClearTrust Free for wearers, makers and the curious.
The Madisar is the nine yard drape of Tamil Brahmin women. The long cloth is wrapped round the waist, and the front pleats are passed between the legs and tucked at the back, so that the lower half resembles a dhoti. It is worn mainly for weddings, festivals and household rituals, and its first use is in religious life.
Wrapped step by step
Each drawing shows the cloth so far, with the newest step outlined in gold. The figure is a front view; the wearer's left is on your right.
Step 1 Tuck one end into the petticoat at the right hip, leaving about a yard hanging for the pallu. Step 2 Wrap the cloth once round the waist. Step 3 Bring the cloth round the waist a second time, because the nine yard length allows it. Step 4 Gather the cloth that remains at the front into long, narrow pleats. Step 5 Pass the pleats between the legs, from the front to the back, as for a dhoti. Step 6 Tuck the pleats into the waist at the back, so that the cloth is secure. Step 7 Draw the pallu across the chest and over the left shoulder, the pattern most often described. Step 8 Let the pallu fall, and adjust the cloth at the ankle. Finished The Madisar, seen from the front.
Where it comes from
Women of the Iyer and Iyengar communities have long worn the nine yard cloth, a length that is also found in other parts of the Deccan. The word madi means ritual purity, and the Madisar is the cloth worn for rites such as cooking for a puja or a death anniversary rite, so it is kept apart from everyday clothes. Variations exist between communities and between families, in the direction of the pallu and the way the pleats are set.
How it looks
Because the cloth is nine yards, it goes twice round the waist before the pleats are made. The front pleats are drawn back between the legs and tucked at the waist behind, the way a kachcham is worn by men. The pallu is carried over the shoulder, and the legs stay free, which suits movement and work. Many wearers use an underskirt and a blouse, while older practice differs.
Who wears it and when
It is worn at Tamil Brahmin weddings, at festivals, at temple visits, and for daily and annual ceremonies at home. Many younger women now wear it only at weddings and thread ceremonies, and some use ready-stitched versions that are easier to put on.
Good to know
- The cloth is worn for ritual, so wearers treat it with care and keep it clean.
Sarees worn this way
Also part of it, and being written: Kanchipuram sari (Woven in nine yard lengths for this drape.).
More on EveryPallu
Sources and further reading
Original text and drawings by the EveryPallu desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. The drawings are simplified diagrams of the order of wrapping, not a lesson: how a drape is worn differs from family to family. If we have something wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Kandangi: RidahZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Koorai silk sari: En.saravanan, CC BY 4.0, source