Other lands
The sari in Sri Lanka
The everyday and formal sari of Sri Lanka, worn mostly in the Indian way by Sinhalese and Tamil women, with its own Kandyan form beside it.
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Women in Sri Lanka, Sinhalese and Tamil alike, wear the sari for formal occasions, for work in some professions and for weddings. The most common drape is the same pleated, over-the-left-shoulder drape known as the Nivi in India. Sri Lanka also has its own Kandyan style, the osariya, which has a separate entry.
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 the plain end of the sari into the petticoat at the right hip. Step 2 Wrap the cloth once round the waist. Step 3 Make about five to seven pleats at the front. Step 4 Tuck the pleats into the petticoat at the navel. Step 5 Carry the pallu across the chest and over the left shoulder. Step 6 Pin the pallu at the shoulder. Step 7 Let the end hang down the back. Finished The sari in Sri Lanka, seen from the front.
Where it comes from
The sari has been known on the island for a long time, shared with South India across a narrow sea. Tamil women in the north and east wear it in the Tamil Nadu manner, and many Sinhalese women wear what is often called the Indian style. The Kandyan osariya is a separate Sinhalese style associated with the old hill kingdom. Modern use of the sari in Sri Lanka draws on trade, family ties and shared silk and cotton weaving traditions with India, and Sri Lankan makers also produce their own handloom and batik cloth.
How it looks
In the common style, the sari is wrapped round the waist, pleated at the front and tucked in, and the pallu goes across the chest and over the left shoulder. A fitted blouse and a petticoat are worn under it. Colours range from plain whites and pastels for daily wear to deep silks for weddings. Cotton and light synthetic cloth suit the climate. Batik and handloom cotton are popular choices in Sri Lanka. A short blouse that stops above the waist is the usual style, as in India, and a plain petticoat in a matching shade is worn beneath.
Who wears it and when
Women wear it for weddings, religious days, formal functions and in some workplaces such as schools and offices, though practice varies. At Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April, many families dress in new clothes, and a sari is a common choice for women. Brides may choose the Kandyan osariya or a silk sari in the Indian style. Younger women may wear it only on special days, using trousers or dresses otherwise. Details differ by community and family. Wedding guests often wear saris, and a bride may change between styles during the day. This guide gives the general form, and a maker, dresser or family may do it a little differently.
Sarees worn this way
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.
- Sari: Suyash.dwivedi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Batik: Fpangestuphotographer, CC BY-SA 4.0, source