Draupadi Murmu Swears In As The President Of India Wearing A Santali Saree

Draupadi Murmu took her oath as the President of India, on July 25, while wearing a Santali saree. Among the headlines of her being the first tribal woman President of the country, the politician is also trending for wearing the Santali saree, weaved with colourful threads.

Highlighting the tribal tradition and culture, citizens are praising her for wearing swadeshi clothes, as once dreamt by Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Murmu wore a white saree complemented by a red stripe on the upper border and a broad green stripe with triangular spikes on the lower side.

History, Tradition & Cost Of Santali Sarees

Image Courtesy: Tribehool, Facebook, Exporters Of India

Murmu belongs to the Santhal or Santal tribal communities. They mainly live in parts of Odisha and neighbouring states like Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

Most Santali sarees feature uniformly sized stripes running across the borders. Women from the community often wear these on special occasions.

In the past, these sarees had three-bow designs that symbolises the desire of women to achieve freedom. In today’s time, these traditional sarees have been infused with a touch of modern design. Along with stripes on the borders, the 5.5 m elegant piece of clothing often has flowers, peacocks, and ducks along with colourful motifs.

Santali sarees are hand woven. From multi-coloured thread work to checks, they come with a variety of intricate work. The price of a basic sarees starts at ₹1,000.

When a president takes the oath, the dress code is often decided by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, according to the reports, Murmu’s sister-in-law brought a Santali saree for her to wear while swearing in as the President of India.

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The Hindustan Times quoted her saying, “I am carrying a Santali saree for Didi (elder sister) and pray she will wear it during the oath-taking. I am not sure what she will actually wear on the occasion.”

Draupadi Murmu Swears In As The President of India

Image Courtesy: Press Trust of India

In her first address to the country as the President of India, Draupadi Murmu said, “I am fortunate to have got this opportunity to serve during the 75th year of Independence.”

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She added, “My elevation as President is not just my achievement but that of everyone in the country, that they can dream of reaching this level.”