This has to be the most obvious pick to look utterly Maharashtrian – and it’ll get the job done even if this is your first time in the state! The dhoti style silhouette definitely needs patience and a very specific kind of skill to drape seamlessly. Now this is nothing you can’t learn off YouTube if you believe yourself to have great hand-eye coordination. However, realistically speaking the drape is complicated enough for you to not be able to land it in just a few tries, especially if the saree is not something you routinely reach out for in your wardrobe. That being said, fret not for there are plenty of pre-draped Nauvari options out there to ease your burdens in case you want to skip the fuss all together – highly suggested if you’re not used to handling yourself in an authentically draped one, given all the walking and crowds you will be maneuvering. If you’re going the Nauvari route – all nine yards or a neatly tucked pre-drape, don’t forget to layer on the gold with Thushi necklaces, Kolhapuri saaj, tanmaniya, bajubandh and traditional gold bangles – mix and match to ensure you’re still looking festive and costume-y.
