CHENNAI: Artistic lighting, appealing angles and the smell of sambhar from the sabha canteens are just a few of the things we look forward to during the rain-cooled Tamil month of Margazhi. Walk into a concert and you will hear the sound of music, the rustling of silk saris and hushed whispers of news of the latest margazhi wardrobe.
At the sabha, there is a dazzling array of silk saris, where women are elegantly draped in bright pinks, reds and shades of the sky, while men keep it classic in kurtas and veshtis. You see little girls following their mum’s in pavadais, neat braids and sweet smiles.
For those who find it cumbersome to drape a sari, Shreya, a regular sabha-hopper, notes that margazhi style is changing very slowly, and it’s becoming more about comfort, and not nine-yard wonders. “My mother used to be a stickler and wear pattu saris only from Nalli. I think the trend is changing over time for a host of reasons.
People are starting to wear anarkalis and lighter materials of saris,” she opines.
This statement holds true at the few sabhas we visited. While a majority of women were decked up like traditional South-Indian yards, some of them had simple looks, and were there simply to enjoy the music. Yashika, dressed in a silk salwar kameez, gives us her take. “You can’t keep the taal if you’re wearing so many bangles, and I don’t want to tire myself attempting to manage a sari,” she laughs.
When it comes to blouses, while cold shoulders, scalloped edges and demi capes might be in vogue, the limelight for margazhi season is still on the basic shirt blouses, cookie-cutter patterns, arm-length with a U at the back. While the mood is always Madras checks and pattu silks, the accessories of choice are ones that appeal to the traditional sensibilities of the crowd.
Think terracotta and oxidised silver. Madhu, a rasika, fills us in. “Many dancers integrate temple jewellery and beaded accessories to create a new look.”
No outfit is complete without a hair-do, and thankfully, the occasion is not one that is in want of elaborate twists and curls in your locks. “Wear a neat low bun or a French braid. If you have short hair, they can be left in a half-bun, or even open. As long as it’s neat,” says Arti Jain, a stylist in the city. Jazz it up with a string of jasmine flowers or roses, but ensure that there is balance and you don’t look like a flower basket.
If you are dressing up for Margazhi for the first time, there are some pointers you may want to keep in mind. “There are no dos and donts as each individual has own style. However, try to dress based on the Margazhi event you’re attending — a recital is more formal compared to a concert, so you’d want to pay more attention to detail then,” Arti elucidates.