Wrapped in the joy that is Deepavali

Jayanthy and Sangeetha (left) showing off one of the latest trends in the market, the cotton saree with tassels.

DEEPAVALI celebrations are not complete without shopping, and these days the choices are aplenty for eager shoppers.

Over the years, young women have opted for the latest Punjabi suits and lenghas but thanks to saree enthusiasts worldwide, this six yards of pure elegance is now making a comeback.

More retailers are selling sarees this year, focusing on handlooms and cottons which are creating waves both in India and among the Indian diaspora.

One retailer, The Saree Library, is spreading the love for sarees in its boutique located in Jalan Mohd Tahir 8, off Jalan Sungai Jati, Taman Saujana Klang.

Run by two saree lovers and sisters-inlaw, Jayanthy Anasalam and Sangeetha Priya, the outlet has a steady stream of customers.

The two women wear saree daily and Jayanthy has been donning the traditional Indian dress for 36 years and hopes to inspire others, too.

(From left) Kumran Muthysamy, 30 (left), Pushpanthan Manickam, 45, and Mano Gohool Roy Winston holding up their cotton bedsheets for sale at the Deepavali bazaar in Little India Brickfields.

“The idea here is to help our customers find the right saree for the occasion. We do a lot of mix and match and even fusion concepts to set our own trends,” said Jayanthy.

In fact, they experiment with different outfits including matching sarees with fulllength skirts for a new look.

They do, however, cater for those looking for latest trends like the handloom cotton sarees with tassels as well as lengha sarees that are great for dinners and parties.

There are also cotton palazzo suits, Rajasthani suits, pants from Pakistan and accessories. Most of the items come from Rajasthan, Surat, Delhi and Mumbai.

Furthermore, they also have outfits for the entire family including men’s kurta, specially designed by Mumbai designer Nikhil Mehta. The range includes ladies’ kurti and children’s outfits.

Shoppers can check out their collection on https://www.facebook.com/thesareelibrary/.

Another establishment also focuses on raising awareness on sarees but the owner, Pallavi Sritharan, specialises in teaching women how to drape it.

Dubbed the “saree guru” by the New Zealand Wedding Magazine, Pallavi has been in the business of saree draping for over 12 years and has a registered saree academy.

The 36-year-old specialises in draping sarees to make women appear sleek and elegant.

It takes her between two and 10 minutes to drape a saree depending on the material and style requested.

However, she has a few tricks up her sleeves to ensure even bulky sarees are draped beautifully to show off the clients’ figure.

“I actually alter sarees to suit the physique of the clients. Like normal clothes that come in various sizes, the saree should also fit the wearer.

“It is unfair to assume sarees would fit everyone. Sometimes, too much material on a petite girl can give unsightly bulges,” she added.

Pallavi, known for her saree draping expertise, holding up one of the exquisite saree materials which carry her label Pallavi Sri, at her outlet in Damansara Perdana.

Pallavi cuts the sarees for some and turns the excess materials into bags that can match the outfit or adds on materials for those who are taller or curvier.

She even helps to pre-drape sarees before sending it off to clients who can tie it on their own in five easy steps, a method that is popular with overseas and out-of-town clients.

Since Pallavi is also a certified beautician, some of her clients opt to get an entire makeover from her for special Bollywood nights or even family portraits.

“Our clients can come in their regular outfits and I can help design a look for them, incorporating their outfits with a saree matched with jewellery as well,” she added.

She also has special courses on saree draping for novices and workshops for those looking to make an income.

She also makes YouTube videos on tips for sarees and draping methods.

Pallavi’s outlet is located at Perdana Shopping Centre PJU 8/1 Damansara Perdana or you can find her on www.SareeGuru4u.com or on Instagram, SareeGuru.

While sarees are taking centre stage this year, traditional bazaars are still popular for those looking for a one-stop shopping experience.

One of the most popular joints is still Klang’s Little India where shoppers get a mix of stall items for sale.

This year, Klang’s Deepavali bazaar located along Lorong Tingkat has some 143 lots.

Shoppers can find a number of items including kitchen appliances, shoes, jewellery and cookies.

At stall number 49, Cello House has a variety of appliances commonly found in Indian homes including mixers, grinders and flat iron gridles used for thosai with spare parts for blenders and warranties for items sold.

Next to them are a group of boys selling bedsheets.

Sun Mixture Sdn Bhd is selling a number of festive goodies that guests would love including their spicy mixtures, muruku and achi muruku.

Stall number 12 has one of the cutest items on sale in the area – little girls’ traditional pavadai set. The sets are designed and handsewn by S. Meena Priyadarshini who started her Deepavali collection in May with sizes for newborns up to girls aged 15.

Head to the main street for decorations where a number of shops are selling colourful fairy lights and wall decorations.

Last-minute shoppers can also stop by to purchase dry and wet items for their Deepavali treats.