From the comforting fragrance of every mother’s old heirloom, to the complex designs and patterns that crowd up the Instagram algorithm on festive occasions, the saree has been a ubiquitous presence in Indian lives. For celebrated choreographer Daksha Sheth, the story of the garment is one worth spending a decade in telling. Her Sari: The Unstitched, will make a return on invitation to the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) tomorrow.

The journey began in the early 2000s, Sheth reveals, after fellow collaborator Rta Kapur Chishti had released her book, Saris of India: Tradition and Beyond. “She approached us, Dev Issaro and I, with the desire to create a dance production around the Indian drape as part of the opening of her new work. The saree remains a hallmark of Indian culture and heritage since time immemorial, which also aligned with our artistic practice of nurturing the age-old with a fresh and innovative mind,” she explains.