The six to nine yards of unstitched fabric is arguably the most democratic and adaptable garment in the world. A woman in a Kanchipuram silk saree is a symbol of Tamil pride; a woman in a Mekhela Chador represents Assamese heritage; a simple cotton saree with a bindi is the uniform of the working-class activist. The pallu (the loose end of the saree) can be used to wipe a child’s face, carry groceries, or shield one’s head in a temple.