50/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories

Saree: one of my fav.. shades of blue in silk. Choli: custom brocade and silk blouse from a different Saree

Story: I wasn't too sure if I wanted to celebrate my fiftieth today or later this week. Well.. when in doubt- just do it! Tomorrow never comes.

I picked this blue because it drapes easily, and I have worn it day or night and saree is equally beautiful. When I step out to take pics,  I felt a nice cool feel (unlike the recent cold evenings) and when I looked up I saw this beautiful moon smiling at earth. I couldn't help but include her in my pics today.. moon moon, u r my buddy today.

I know tomorrow's moon is supposedly special but why wait for it, when it is beautiful even today. I felt calm at once, I felt the blue sari, the moon somehow were what I needed today. And coincidentally our department meeting was in a planetarium today! Watched beautiful show about dark matter and dark energy. Something tells me all the star effects today have a meaning.  I will know tonight .. or perhaps like other puzzles in life, the answers happen first and the question paper will be released to us much later.

For now.. as I enjoy my tiny fifty choli milestone with you all .. my heart goes..
chanda re, chanda re.. kabhi toh zameen par aa...
Chaand chupa baadal mein... and many more soothing melodies to hum and smile.

Keep calm and sari on.

Love you all for being such a sport tolerating my posts!!

49/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: printed pure silk, Choli: ahem! Its actually a knee length sweater dress but since the fit looked choli-ish I wanted to experiment

Story: Padman is so right! "If men bleed half an hour like women, they Will Go straight die!!"

However I must say the increasing awareness amongst men is welcome. While they can never understand this or labour pain, their acknowledgement of such a natural therapy and the need to support sometimes in deed, sometimes in silence is extremely relieving. Dad's with daughters may relate more than dad's with just son's is a thought that crosses my mind.. maybe,maybe not.. Because mom's don't show their pain (even if they experience) to son's or husbands but a dad can never overlook his little princesses' struggle. I ofte think there are two ages in our lives.. attaining womanhood and attaining motherhood. No matter wen you reach any of these milestones suddenly age gaps with others of our kind dissolve. Mom is mom - 18, 28,48... all the same.

Nevertheless, I still wanted to get my ten minute self time and draped this Saree.  One advantage of non transparent sarees is the fact you will not know I wore a yellow petticoat underneath a red saree (duh! Until now that is, not anymore)

I would still workout, stretch and move my muscles - no giving up to nature's challenges. That's what makes us strong.

Thats a Long story short, period.

48/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories

Saree: Gicha tussar Choli: Phulkari blouse and overlay coat

Story: I actually wanted to write about black and white.  It's ironical to think we expect challenges, unseen risks, and problems to be black and white, just so are able to solve them and move on.. although we want life to be colorful. Interesting perspectives about the same thing. Life.

Aug 24 1992- the day when color tv arrived home. It wasn't just a tv. It was neighbour's envy and owner's pride. I was at my hindi class (commonly known as dakshin bharat hindi prachar sabha classes) when my neighbour's kid came running to tell we got a new tv. So Hindi class chutti!! Even aunty knew this is an important moment of life. So off I ran.. color tv. Remote control.. so many channels that after few +|-  the tv would only buzz like a bee showing us black and white polka dotted screen. (Cable tv wasn't there yet). That night was all anticipation.  But unfortunately between DD1 and DD2 it was black and white mostly that day. However the excitement of color t.v. was colorful. Shanti (less of maid more of elder sister) was tired after their long day and was dozing off but still sat in front of the t.v hoping to see she could see one colorful song or scene before she could go home and rest for the day.
We didn't remove the stickers (yes the demon with horns!) and also the plastic cover. Dealing with the antenna is a totally different skill altogther!!
Thumbrule about new items and plastic cover: if it doesn't have plastic cover it's not new.. be it t.v., scooter, car seat..etc etc and vice versa is true as well. If it has a plastic cover it is considerably new although the plastic could be ripping off, sticky brown and collected dust.

To the black white and million colors of life -- here's a shout out!!
We love the way you are. Keep it coming.

I actually wanted to wear black and white today, but could not find something that met my mood. So I did u turn and picked something that is way too colorful!!

47/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: Mangalagiri cotton with hand block print. Choli: the turquoise one is a crop top (noodle strap back so no foto of that) and the second one a peplum top.

Story: Started the day pretty well (after watching late night show if Padmavat yday night). Finally draped much awaited cotton but wanted to experiment the choli. The turquoise crop top caught my attention, but I knew I needed an overlay as well so the peplum top was to go with it.

Guess what I picked from grocery stores today? Guava. My second fav fruit (first is Jack fruit And third is pomegranate). Reminded me of the guava tree at home whose shade would spread to the terrace. Many many mornings I would get up,  take my books at dawn and go up to sit under its branches and study until Amma gives a shout out to come get my bournvita. The gentle breeze of early mornings just before sunrise is the most precious feeling in a day. The cool warmth (yes I mean it) the chirpy birds, smell of leaves and also to check which fruit is more ripe today than it was yesterday and to pre-choose your fruit already (talk about reservations!) Is blissful. I have written many silly poems, read many books, drew pictures, cried, shared my joy and the guava tree knew it all. I used to sing to it and talk too (at the time I read it would help trees grow so experimented that as well). I have even spent silent moments with the tree on those tough days (like my mounavrat zone yesterday) and the tree's branches would gently sway on my shoulder as if to say, it will all be fine. It indeed is true. A lot is fine today than what was at the time.  That tree is no more (I miss her) but maybe I will find the same joy with my pineapple-guava tree growing in the backyard now.. maybe my son will find a friend in her.. maybe.. time will tell.

for now... I must enjoy the guava with some salt, chili and chaat powder. yumm.

Did I tell you all before? I want to be a tree in my next birth. all I need is water and I will give you oxygen, fruit, shade and everything good in return. 🤗🤗🤗

46/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: very simple Bengal cotton with big zari border, choli: very simple south cotton with big zari border

Story: I was hoping to wear Handloom tonight.. I usually prefer cotton during day especially right now since it's winter .. but today was an exception. I just wanted to be airy breezy and feel the fabric. I wanted to feel home. I want to calm down and breathe. I am in the quiet zone (not usual). Although I planned to share a story initially, I would like to hold it for later..

These are the times I feel like painting. Canvas painting. I like how a blank base can be transformed to a million different things just by the creator's vision. Art is expression, meditation, discovery and form of letting go... But I need more time than what I can afford at the moment. Art can never be a rush. Art is journey. When I go through that journey I will share with you all..for now I wish you gals happy weekend and hopefully you get some rest

I wonder what happened to our Diva.. Divya Anukul.. been  while since she was active in the group. Hope it's all good. Shout out to Divya- Miss you gal! We want you back!!!

45/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories

Saree: kanjivaram Choli: pale white and gold brocade blouse

Story: How many of you are lucky to have grown up in claasic 80-90s middle class families? Raise your hands! I go first !!!

I can't be thankful enough for that golden era which bridged the gaps of blooming dreams,  aspirations and also seeing them come true. After India's independence,  perhaps it's the next revolutionary period ever!

This Saree is from more than fifteen years ago purchased so I could wear it for my college farewell party. Amma had been saving money from tuition classes so we could purchase it on installments from the Saree vendor that would come home. It costed 3500/-.  It was big deal. I wasn't sure if I really wanted such expensive Saree but had loved it. Amma said she will somehow manage from her monthly expenses and we decided to get it. After my farewell day perhaps today is when I wore it again. Precious.

The middle class life was classy yet complicated.  You had enough but not more enough. You knew you could stretch limits but always aware of the upper limit. You would go shopping, once in a while eat outside but never extravagant. Amma would give me and sis ten rupees each month (new note from bank). Sometimes we would spend that to eat at local iyengaran bakery.. veg puff (rs. 2.00/-) and sunday special (rd. 2.50/-) cutlet. Other times I would save it for a trip to pondy Bazaar. (1.90 bus ticket each way) and leaves will around 5.00/- for perhaps sugarcane juice around the corner.. at times two or three months money would be saved so we could shop on the street for earrings or hair clips.. (wow.. lots of shopping)

Somewhere amidst all that we learnt to be content in small things although God might have been gracious to bless us with abundance. We learnt to share, even when we had less. We learnt to smile even with pile of challenges hugged us. We grew like the tiny seed that crack a tough ground and found it's life and made it's way into the world.

And of course thanks to all those moms that saved money in masala dabbas, underneath old newspaper shlves on kitchen racks only to fulfill our wishes.

Love you all moms.. Amma ho ya ma.. mother ho ya mother-in-law.. every mom had been there and done that.

All these thoughts draped me while I was draping this Saree. And in that journey I forgot that I had very tough tiring day at work, did not eat all day and did not use restroom for almost ten hours!! Well...the drape made me smile. Like i always say, every Saree has a story.

43/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: White Georgette,  Choli: sorry for the repeat of the crop top

Story: Sita Gita, Amar Akbar Anthony and then.. Bollywood, Baarish and Bheegi white saree, quintessential combinations.... It was raining outside and although returning from work I was annoyed that it was cold at the same time .. listening to bollywood rain songs driving back home, immediately I knew what would happen when I reached home.  White Saree (no no not bheegi...) with an umbrella of course.

So many memorable songs from.. pyar hua iqrar hua, aaj rapat jaye to.. bheegi bheegi raaton mein, koi ladka hai jab woh gaata hai.. and on and on.. we all grew up together with the rain and Bollywood baarish..

Here it is.. aaj ki shaam bollywood baarish ke naam..

Poor pic quality perhaps due to the moisture content in the air.. I tried.

42/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: Gota patti on georgette, Choli: yummy work at the back and simple boat in the front

Story: it was an exhausting day 😞 and was not sure if I had any energy left to dress up after coming home! I was so wrong about myself. After some abracadabra.. I picked these two beauties who never met each other before..

I think Saree choli do the same effect to me as does alcohol to those that enjoy it's consumption. I get a "kick", talk a lot, open up, travel to fantasy land and am on cloud nine. Can you believe?
Good part is I don't get caught by traffic policemen for driving under influence!!😎
Well, I hadn't brushed my hair all day at all, had not much energy left to dress up.. but the drape was easy so glad I still pulled it off today..
There were actually two topics I had thought of thought of sharing with you this morning, I thought the second topic should be shared first, but later changed mind. So both second and first topics were still first and I said to myself.. nahhhhhh. Competition should be with one's self not with others - that's what I told those two topics too and asked them not to be competitive.

If you still haven't fallen off your chair yet, or haven't found the nearest paper weight, belan, pattar  and all such objects to hit me for that whatever ÷%<~```/$^&&* I just said above, you are very strong and brave and ... aap aurat hi nahi ho... aap maha aurat ho.


Ok, shutting up now.

41/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: Benarasi Georgette #mitanghosh  purchased couple of years ago.. Blouse: mix and match (did not get the matching blouse stitched yet)

Story: my little one was upset yesterday and had tears flowing down the cheek. He is ten and tonnes of fun to be with. I told him it's ok and we moved on. Suddenly my memory took me five years down the lane. On his fifth birthday I had invited two of his Friends.  A boy and a girl from his class along with their families.

They were playing together and suddenly the boy starts wailing and crying.. because he was not being allowed to play with a toy he just picked as favorite.  It was sorted out and kids continued to have fun. A little while later the girl comes running to me. Her parents were busy in discussions with ithers and since I was the host she has come to me. I thought she would ask for water or snack.  Nope. She showed her bloody finger because she accidentally had a cut while playing. No tear, no sound not even a murmur, such strength and resilience shook me. I immediately tended to it and she happily went back to play.

So for all those that say "boys don't cry"  or for those women (sad but true)  who also join the gang and say "don't cry like a girl" ... here take it.. might as well stop saying such illogical statements. Crying doesn't mean weakness, crying is not cowardly, crying is not a crime. For all the "fake male power packs" Nature and Creator had spent really good time designing homosapiens. If Nature thought crying is a female thing, it would not have blessed male species with tears glands.. just like how Nature decided mammary glands are not needed for males because they don't feed a baby. The strength to carry life and feed it is absolutely empowered to the deserving... us.

It's the people around kids that are responsible to bringing such thoughts in their minds. Let the kid decide whether it would like to shed tears or not. Last thing you want is for the boy to go through internal emotional haemorrhage because he doesn't want to shed a tear. Jeez! I have seen men cry- nanna, baba, hubby , Ayush and many.. For the record -  Boys do cry. Boys can't feed though.  Let's get our biology right while we do our gyan..

Oh btw.. I was getting ready to work but the nice drizzle outside and fresh greenery made me change minds to wear a Saree first, spend some moments with myself and then change to head to work (my hair is dripping wet in the pics because I directly headed out of shower). Long week ahead, so wanted to  kick start in awesome way, in Saree choli way.

💖💖💖

40/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: Byloom cotton, Choli: exhibition pick from way back.

Story: Basant Panchami a.k.a. Saraswati pujo in West Bengal and perhaps few other states too. Yellow is the color of the day! so finally draped the Byloom Saree purchased three years ago..
I think the blouse length was not cut so realized the Saree was way too long.. meaning really loooonnnnngggggg (thank you Byloom)
.. it kept flowing like Krishna supplying Saree to Draupadi.. btw too many mythological coincidences with my sarees these days. Point to be noted My Lord.

So... tried a drape that no one ever tried before (and perhaps I cannot repeat too..) its called the impromptu "jalebi drape" that goes around two and half times. Add to that the hip belt which actually is a long chain in disguise.. omg.
Way too much jugaad, just like khichdi. ... speaking of which.. its mishti doi time. Yummy yummy in my tummy.
On that sweet note, May goddess Saraswati bless everyone with good thinking, knowledge and the knowledge to use knowledge when needed where needed.
Btw.. I will celebrate her again after six months during navrathri per amma' s style so I could remind her to bless again in case we need second helpings!!

39/100 #100cholicraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: run errands easily... Georgette saree. Choli: Magenta sleeveless. Btw.. had to got to office suddenly for couple of hours, so went the way I was. First pic is from office lobby.

Story: I just finished typing email to my kid and hit send (will talk about this in another post). Ok... back to our cholifriends..
It was not supposed to be a busy day so after workout picked a simple Saree comfy to run errands. Although my original choice was different I ended up draping this.. wondering.. "is pink really for girls"? (..and is blue for boys?) Why not red instead? Meaning.. I am not a big fan of everything pink now, neither was I in childhood.
If I look around today anything pink is stereotyped to feminine kind.  It is an assumption that is marketed so much that it almost became real (same with blue and boys!). It's like telling a dog that it's a cat million times so the dog actually thinks it's a cat. Pink, princess,  pretty ..what is happening around? Where is the white for peace, red for strength , green for life, blue for tranquility and much more that actually girls and women are made of?

Glad my parents never thought letting me play with Barbie was priority.. I don't even know which dolls I played with. Perhaps none. I certainly would not have wanted my young mind to think that a pretty princess should wait for her prince to come and away her away. Comm'on Gal!!! Wake up and get going, you could do better!!. You need nobody except yourself to "sway away". My room paint (thankfully) was never pink,  neither were my shoes, socks,undies, ribbons, clips, water cup, paper plate,, and so on... it's definitely a money minting color !! I am not against pink (it's just a color like million others), so dont get me wrong, I am against the perception world has yet again created for us... and many fell trap to it!

I feel very strongly about it. I feel we should not let our younger generation to get wrong stereotypes engraved in their learning minds. That's a disaster and path to failure.

So today as I wore the "pink" it's not because I am all girly cosy dreamy princess.  It's just because this one was handy, lying around and serves my purpose today just like another day another color would do. Duh.
Here are some lines I love...

"You should know you're beautiful just the way you are,
And you don't have to change a thing, the world could change its heart,
No scars to your beautiful, we're stars and we're beautiful.
No better you than the you that you are,
No better life than the life we're living
No better time for your shine, you're a star.."

Disclaimer: if I unintentionally hurt your (or your child's) sentiments forgive me please. Truly. Honestly.

38/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: batik silk.. choli: ahem. Regular winter pullover. Accessorized with a narrow belt for a little drama.

Story: how can I not talk bout dilli ki sardi?? It's cold outside and all I can think of is Delhi (Gurgaon precisely). The first winter there, the freezing cold tap water to greet you in the morning, the zero visibility foggy days. The bright red juicy carrots (and of course halwa), garam chai, aloo ke parate,  makki di roti and sarson ka saag. Dinner at roadside dhaba, chowmein, momos at every corner and Chinese soup and chowmein at eatouts sitting on straw stools (modas) rubbibg hands to keep warm.. The late night rickshaw rides home after watching movie, the shopping for razoi.. ahhh the winter.

Neighbours sitting and knitting sweaters, uncles talking how cold the weather is when compared to their jawani years (our very own desi version of weather.com for predictions) . The sweaters, mufflers, and the opportunity for many women to wear jeans and pullover who otherwise are limited to Salwar kameez... to flaunt, feel good, hep and chick!!

Gurgaon always holds special place in my 💕. First home, wedding, child birth.. many lasting memories of building life from scratch revolve around the city.

Although recent news doesn't amuse me.. around women (un)safety, pollution, etc etc.

It's tough how sometimes the circumstances around your memories change so drastically and all you can thank is that glad you were part of the happy journey and smile with your eyes closed... Life goes on. The roads you walked once may not be the same anymore. To take time to enjoy the scenery as you go because before you can wink an eye the world may change in split second.

Yaadein. Kuch pal. Kuch ehsaas.

37/100 #100CholiCraze #debsaristories

Saree: mushirabad silk purchased from an exhibition at Hyderabad many years ago. Choli: kantha stitch blouse piece picked by ma during one of her Kolkata trips several years ago. Those days visiting exhibitions... sigh..

Story: well past few days were intense stories so mind is still recovering..

Just changing the choli back to my Pjs makes me feel.. dil ka bhoj halka ho gaya!

36/100 #100cholicraze #debsaristories

Saree: blue georgette with benarasi border (Chennai boutique). Choli: Gota patti.

Story: M.S. blue (m.s.subbalakshmi blue) is very very popular as all know... however did you notice M.R. Blue ever? The only and only  Manirathnam Blue.. #madrastalkies

Manirathnam Sir, Rahman sir And P.C. Sreeram sir are geniuses. Especially Mani Sir's portrayal of women as strong personalities (and his movies always depict societal truth) are noteworthy anytime. Starting from Thalapathi, Roja.. Sakhi.. every unique role leaves a mark on the viewers.. And... and... each of these movies depict the leading lady at least in one song in this shade of blue.  Very unique, very Mani Sir ish. This saree is one such memory..

Beyond tinsel world there are two designers I respect for who they are. Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee for weaving dreams in fabric and christening memories of million indian women. And the other is Mr. Ayush Kejriwal. #ayushkejriwal Ayush's posts are exactly my reflection of self. Beyond societal bindings, Beyond negativity, Beyond struggle to emerge as Shakthi. Every time I read his posts, the more I dream that for once I should be muse in one of those wonderful stories, draped in those magical woven stories of patola.

Women alone need not fight for women empowerment (we are already empowered).  It is men's responsibility too and in a way many men like those mentioned above and including from our own families help us get there.  This is for all those 'strong men'. World needs more of you.

35/100 #100cholicraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: orissa bomkai silk, choli: matching with saree. My tailor did some fancy work with those tiny buttons at the back. I wonder how everyone wears the side zipper blouse.  I wrestle in and out of it..  and look like zombie at the end. Choli ke 'side' effects. Duh.

Story: no no. It was not fancy dress day, not at all. It was pleasant weather, beautiful playlist playing, almost uneventful throughout.. however I managed to lose my nut, can you imagine??? Wow, I exceed my own expectations in craziness!

Rewind : Feb 1998. I really wanted to dance for the song "nee kattum sela madipula" for my college annual day. somehow we ended up doing another one (pic).. however my wish stayed with me forever. I could never stop tapping my feet (neither can anyone of you that heard it right?) .. so when all of a sudden, today, YouTube  autoplay plays this on drive to work... you could guess what plans i had for the evening.. finished dress up and photos in around twenty mins rush, hence the clumsy look.. although I dint miss wearing anklets.. golusu for my dance getup.. 😗😗😗😉 you can say (yeah right 😛😛)

33/100 #100cholicraze #debsaristories  #iworkedout

Saree: blue kanjivaram.. one of those purchases for my wedding. Choli: gujrati... kutchi..came with a lehenga that is sleeping in wardrobe

Story: I have heard a story that mahouts tie baby elephants to a tree or post so they dont run away. Growing up even though the elephant is more powerful than the rope, it doesn't run away assuming the rope us stronger.. childhood memory and influence that runs deep in mind.

As a kid especially during teen I was very dark complexioned. Every moment someone known or unknown would always remind me of it. That I am not beautiful and soon I had accepted it. People knew me as smart, studious, kind hearted girl but never beautiful. I never tried to change that because I can't get skin transplant for entire body you see!! After my college when I started working in IT, was the first time I paid attention to personality and paid attention to myself.

This blue shade was always taboo for me in the past.. reminds me of the times when I would be clearly told this will not suit dark skinned girls like me. Today when I draped it again, I am glad I had broken my taboo over the years... I wore this during my after wedding ceremony but was just for few hours.

Each of us have something tied to us like the baby elephant and the rope. We limit ourselves and don't try to break free. Things might have changed. Each of us grow every moment .. I think we need to try to break our ropes once in a while.. perhaps....

31/100 #100cholicraze #debsaristories #iworkedout

Saree: pure silk with brocade border Choli: purple with high neck.. got this done five years ago for another Saree

Story: all the best and congratulations Shobha and Ramya!! You gals rock!! Keep it going.. group is as good as it's people 💕💕💕

Food for thought: At times, we fret over few 'extras' around our eyebrows or upperlip... sometimes it is important to think of other 'extras' that impact our lives more than eyebrows!

Extras around negative feelings from people that actually are not core to our lives
Extras around the wants more than needs which often makes us forget that happiness is in small things
Extras in our system that impact our healthy body and healthy mind

On the auspicious occasion of Boghi, Lohri let us burn all these extras and become a better version of us!!

Love all! End of story.

32/100 #100cholicraze #debsaristories

Saree: Mangalagiri !!!!!!  Choli: Two different ones. The greenish blue is actually my younger sister's blouse she got done for her wedding eight years ago. She doesn't fit in it anymore. Ever heard of hand me ups?!!! The magenta blouse is from i-don't-know-which-saree but thought of giving a try with green saree.

Story: starting the harvest month with Go-Green theme..
Food for thought: think about it.. money doesn't always mean class or sophistication. It just gives you the purchasing power. Class and sohpisiction can be well noticed even in simplicity. No bells and whistles, yet stands apart.

Disclaimer: any coincidence of memories about color ribbons, jhumka, braided hair from your childhood is purely intentional. Go down the memory lane and have some fun time smiling at your childishness!

29/100 #100cholicraze #debsaristories  #iworkedout

Saree: White net and georgette. Choli: Black maharani blouse. Cape: black printed cape

Story: was watching "nagada sangh dhol" from Ramleela while working out and was inspired by the white red and black combo from Deepika' lehenga.. so tried this combo in the evening after coming from work!