Bihar in the east is the home of the Santhal tribals, perhaps best known for their inherent sense of music. The saree as worn by these tribal women is quite different. Tied around the waist, the saree reaches upto the kness. The pallu is draped in the normal way around the left shoulder and then tucked in at the waist making for easy movement through the forests.

Thus the saree has survived along the length and breadth of the subcontinent. Perhaps this is because of the variety it offers. This seemingly cumbersome garment is in reality an extremely versatile, meaningful and adaptable one. It suits every possible occasion, every possible activity. Washing and cleaning, carrying firewood back from the forest in the anchal (pallu) or walking long distances can all be easily executed in a saree.

That is not all, the advantage of the saree are many more. The most important fact is that it never goes out of fashion. At the most there may be phases when women prefer particular colours or when narrow borders are more in vogue than broad ones. But that is as far as it goes. It does not necessitate in any way the discarding of the saree.

Besides, the saree is universal. Grandmother and grand daughter can both carry off the same saree with equal grace. It moulds itself easily to every circumstance. No matter, how convenient, other Indian costumes may be, it is extremely unlikely that Indian women will give up wearing saree.