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2. Without pulling on the sari too much, continue to tuck it into your waistband, making slight folds or pleats as you go. When you reach your left hip, make a tiny, discreet pleat.

3. Continue tucking in the sari, making sure that the lower hem of the sari remains even all the way around.

4. At the center back, make two small pleats about 6-10 cm (2-1/2 to 4") apart, and tuck them in.

5. Continue tucking the sari in around your body, and stop when you reach your original starting point.

6. You will still have a fair amount of sari fabric left. Some of this will later be made into large pleats and tucked into your waistband. The rest will be used for the pallu - the section of sari which is draped across your body and over your shoulder.

7. To make the pallu, bring the fabric across your body and loop it under your right arm.

8. Pull the loose end over your left shoulder.

9. Let the fabric fall down your back as far as your knee.

10. It's a good idea to take a look at the sari at this point, to make sure it is even along the bottom. If it isn't, make any adjustments now. Now is also the time to check the excess sari fabric which is looped in front of you. There should be enough to make a series of generous pleats. If not, now is the time to shorten the length of the pallu slightly. To shorten, simply ease some of the fabric forward over your left shoulder, and loosen it around your body until you have more fabric for the final pleats.

11. Gather the reserved sari fabric towards the front of your body, holding it by the top edge or border only.

12. Hold the border with the tips of your fingers.

13. Pull the edge to your original starting point.

14. Tuck it in, smoothing the cloth over your left hip, making a small pleat here as you tuck it in.

15. Start making your final pleats, working from the inner layer of the sari out. Each pleat should be about four fingers in width.

16. Take special care with the topmost pleat, making sure that it is smooth, and wide enough to almost cover the series of pleats without completely concealing them.

17. Holding them together,

18. Tuck in the series of pleats slightly off center.

19. This is how it should look.

20. Make sure that the bottom edge of the sari is absolutely even.

20. Rearrange the pallu, so that the decorated border is draped across the front and over your left shoulder.

Fold your left arm so that the pallu rests on top of it.

There are at least 10 different styles of sari, depending on the region. The style you have just tried is the most popular, and is worn all over India.