Petticoat
The plain skirt worn under a saree, with a drawstring at the waist into which the cloth is tucked.
Also: underskirt, inskirt, saya, shaya, pavadai
The petticoat is a floor-length underskirt, usually of cotton, that is worn beneath the saree. It has a drawstring or waistband, and the saree is tucked into it at the start of the drape and again when the pleats are made. It holds the cloth in place and gives the saree something to hang from, and it also stops the saree from clinging to the legs. The colour is chosen to match the saree, because many sarees are thin. Regional names include shaya in Bengali, saya in Marathi and pavadai in Tamil, though the Tamil word can also name a girl's skirt.