My Dream Of Wearing Sarees

Sarees are so elegant. I’m glad you could wear them to your heart’s content, Viji Aunty.

 

It looks like you are writing down the memory lines. I had responded in detail about your dream - look at feedbacks in
Dreams

Regards.God Bless

 

well written vijima.. after reading this i should be aggresive enough to learn how to put saree on properly...

 

I knew we had something in common. I love sarees. I have been in love with them since childhood. My grandmother has a huge collection of sarees and as a child I grew up watching her select a saree takin time to understand the design, colour, border...you name it, she will look for all those.

Maybe it was watching her or maybe it's the elegance of seeing a simple lady transform into this beautiful butterfly I am still in awe of these 6 yards.

I bought my first saree with my pocket money for my farewell party in class 11. I still have the saree with me. I remember going to the shop with my grandpa to buy it. That was just the beginning. Over the next few years I amassed a vast collection which is so unique, atleast personally to me.

Oh, it's not the design or the material that stands out but the story behind each of the sarees that I own. Almost all of them have a story.

Like there is this beautiful off white coloured saree with mirror work which my husband bought for me for my birthday when we were dating. He took an advance of his salary to buy that saree for me. And once when he visited Kerela, he ended up buying around 6 sarees at one go.

And the entire bunch of my aunt's sarees are with me now. And my grandmother's pattu saree collection is mine entirely since she bequeathed it to me. And the one of the most weirdest coincidence is my grandmother's mother's sarees which is to say my great-grandmother's pattu sarees are also in my collection.

And my great-grandmother had some of the best pattu sarees imo. I mean, when I wear them, I literally feel like a princess.

But the most precious ones are the ones my dad gave to me. He never bought any. But being a purohit, he usually got a lot of dhotis and sarees given for festivals. And whenever a saree was given, he used to save it up for me. They might not be that fancy or costly but to, well they are priceless.

My wardrobe is now full and bursting but I just can't seem to stop buying when I come across something unique and which looks like it's just made for me.

I wish I had a daughter to share this collection with her. Saree truly transcends generations.

 

Last week we were asked to wear Union colors to the office to get a new contract with Management (strikes are forbidden).

I took a cotton saree, blouse, matching chandelier earrings to the office and changed into them.

I got so many smiles and giggles at the office.

One desi lady outside my office complimented me.

One Indian guy (from the same office building) wanted to talk to me in the elevator, but I didn't want to talk so I moved far away from him (we were getting coffee at the same shop under our office building). He ended up saying to me across the shop, "Happy Birthday"

Anyway, our Union got a new contract. A Happy Birthday indeed!

 

Clad in sarees even mannequins have great eye-appeal.
Back to back draping saree is an art and the skill to wear neat symmetrical pleats in front and on shoulder too.

Some wear to cover midriff and some below navel depending upon their choice, weight & size I suppose.
@iyerviji often writes about it so that new members enjoy reading her experiences and benefit.

I learnt wearing saree from my mother and that skill was useful in stage dramas.

I was in a role assisting a character playing role of a celebrated actress named JIL JIL RAMBA DEVI. It was directed by class mate Ramamoorthy and the annual day invitees included the chief guest - the late CHO Ramaswamy. A particular Act in the drama turned more hilarious when my saree slipped a little from waist revealing the trousers!

The beauty in draping saree includes front and back as well.
Here below in the image guess what is happening?

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I remember going to silk saree shops with mom and helping her pick unique colors/designs. I inherited my mom's huge saree collection. However, I don't have any ethnic ocassions to wear them. For home poojas, I usually wear 9 yards madisaar. But no ocassions to wear 6 yard sarees at all.

All my pattu sarees are sleeping in the cupboard. And I am more confident in draping madisaar vs 6 yard saree.