The word sad is derived from 'sadi' in Prakrit which means 'strip of cloth'. It consists of a drape varying from five to nine yards (4.57 meters to 8.23 meters) in length and two to four feet (60 cm to 1.20 m) in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring die midriff. It is usually worn over a petticoat with a fitted upper garment commonly called a blouse or choli. Choli is derived from the Cholas, an ancient ruling clan in Tamil Nadu. The sari is associated with grace and is widely regarded as a symbol of Indian culture.

In the history of Indian clothing the sari is traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished during 2800-1600 BC around the western part of the Indian subcontinent. The earliest known depiction of the sari in the Indian subcontinent is the statue of an Indus Valley priest wearing a drape.

There are more than 80 recorded ways to wear a sari.