November to February

বিয়ের মৌসুমের শাড়ি

Sarees for Wedding season

শীতের চার মাসে দেশের সব বিয়ে — আর সবগুলোর পেছনে একই দর্জি, একই পার্লার, একই কুরিয়ার। কনে, কনের মা, অতিথি: তিনজনের তিন শাড়ি, আর তিনটারই সময় লাগে। এই পাতা সেই সময়টা গুনে দেয়।

The bride· কনে

Red or maroon Katan Banarasi for the biye — a heavy zari pallu, a wide border, a body that holds its pleats through eight hours and a hundred photographs. Yellow, green or marigold cotton for the holud; a lighter silk or organza in pastel or jewel tones for the bou-bhat. The bride's checklist on the blog counts the weeks back from the day.

Mothers and aunts· মা ও খালা-ফুপু

Rich enough to stand beside the couple, light enough for a day that starts before dawn: a Katan without brocade in a deep colour, a dense half-silk Jamdani, a Tangail half-silk with a wide border.

Guests· অতিথি

A Katan or a soft silk with a good border in a colour that is not the bride's; light enough to sit through dinner, beautiful enough for the photographs, wearable again at the next wedding. Avoid red at a biye and heavy zari in daylight.

The calendar· সময়

Sarees six weeks before, the tailor four weeks before, the trial two weeks before — because in these months a fall-and-pico takes a week and a blouse takes two. Guests can manage on three weeks; brides cannot.