Saris of Memory

"I first encountered Malvika Singh (and you don't just meet her, you embrace her) in Jaipur on a monsoon evening under Champa trees, swathed in a blue laheriya. When six yards of running fabric are an obsession, can a lifetime of sari memories be anything less than magnificent?

For Mala, the everyday ritual of draping a sari is a special act of communion with India, with diverse Indian textiles and traditions that connect and link with almost every element of our civilization.

The journey of a sari begins in the imagination. It then is structured on the loom with a sense of awe, with precision and much deference invoking the sanctity of skill and belief. It then travels to multiple destinations and enters the everyday lives of people, telling stories embodied within its folds.

This personal foray into a realm of saris is a consummate tribute to its many journeys birthed between family, friends and the larger world. A sari may be light in texture and weight, but as this memoir elaborates, it is never to be taken lightly."

Pramod Kumar KG