Mekhela (2 piece saree)

Mekhela chador (pronounced as Sador) is a traditional Assamese sarong traditionally worn by Assamese women. It looks like saree only, with a little twist. It’s very easy to wear and light to carry. It takes less time to wear than saree. It comes in various materials like AC cotton, cotton silk, slub cotton, mix paat, poly silk, silk, muga silk, etc.

Mekhela Chadar consists of two parts.

The bottom or the skirt part in the form of wide cylindrical shape is called Mekhela. It is to be draped from waist downward.

Steps to wear a Mekhela:

  • Wear your suitable underskirt as the base to hold the Mekhla.
  • Wear the Mekhla from top or bottom like a skirt.
  • Make pleats on the front and tuck the pleats in the centre. Three pleats make a perfect wear.
  • The pleats should face towards right unlike saree where they are tucked facing left.
  • Tuck the Mekhla properly around your waist and the Mekhla drape is complete.

Chadar is the longer portion of the Mekhla Chadar which has a pallu part. It ranges from 2.5 m to 3 m in length.

Steps to wear a Chadar :

  • Place the pallu part of the Chadar on the left shoulder. Adjust the pallu according to the length you like.
  • Bring the other end of the Chadar to the front in such a way that it drapes one time around your waist.
  • Tuck the inner border of the Chadar into your underskirt but let one end dangle such that it forms a neat triangular pleat aligning with the Mekhla.
  • Pin up this pleat with the Mekhla so that it stays intact.
  • Now, you can either place the Chadar on the shoulder or pin only the border of the Chadar on your shoulder with the blouse and let the remaining part dangle on your left to give a stylish look.

Uniqueness of Mekhela saree:

The thread work/motif work on Mekhela is the traditional designs of Assam. These work makes it different from any other saree and this work won’t be found in any other clothes material from any other states of India. The mekhela saree can be used as a dress material too and different dresses like kurti, gown, half saree can be made out of it.