Start with the right fabric and a petticoat that grips
A silk Nauvari looks spectacular in photographs and falls apart by the second aarti. For a ten-hour Ganeshotsav day, choose a cotton or cotton-silk blend, the weave has enough texture to hold its own tucks without sliding. Pure silk on a humid August day turns slippery within an hour of body heat and perspiration.The petticoat does more structural work in a Nauvari than in any other saree drape, because the fabric passes between the legs and the inner tucks anchor directly to the waistband. Wear a cotton petticoat, not a satin one, and tie it two fingers below your navel, tighter than feels comfortable standing still, because it will loosen slightly once you start walking. If the petticoat slips, the entire drape follows.One practical addition most women skip: a non-slip petticoat grip band or a strip of fashion tape around the inside waistband. Chemists and fabric stores near Dadar and Pune's Laxmi Road carry these during the festival weeks.
