#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018

Shubho navami! I had a beautiful magenta kanchi cotton salwar kameez for diwali when I was 11. I could not find something similar later. Thus began my search for the soul hugging kanchi cotton sari. Draped the soulmate today and felt love hugs from the fabric! The wide double sided border is actually intricate thread woven giving it zari look, especially with the tiny temples adorning it

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018

💥💥 Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shakti Roopen Sansthita, Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namo Namah 💥💥


This saree and blouse combo were awaiting for a year, just for this perfect occasion. Last October, as soon as I saw this turmeric yellow beauty saree, I knew this would be my #durgashtami saree this year, along with the kala ghoda blouse.
Bhadralok had plans to go to work, but the moment he saw me getting ready, he changed his mind to come to pujo pandal instead. Shobh i Ma r ashirbad! Of all roop of ma, I "love" shakti. Strength doesn't always mean demonstration of power, strength means resilience Strength isn't crushing the weak, strength is in kindness and humility despite power Strength isn't about throwing off weight, strength is in gentleness to help the less privileged Strength isn't always in destruction, strength is in ability to give birth to life Wishing every durga on the planet the best of her strengths, everyday is victory for the shakti in us!

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Bhakti Roopen Sansthita Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namo Namah 💥🙏Shubho shashti!!! 🙏💥

Started my #pujo2018 with an authentic dhakai muslin jamdani sari in traditional cllor combination. Some things are made classy and classic, they just be let alone that way. Teamed with a beautiful blouse custom designed by a designer turned friend turned sister! ❤ The bhadralok had been twiddling the camera from past few days, knowing his 'duty' would soon begin. Its like taking out your toolbox, oiling and keeping it ready for business. He never tires taking puja pandal pics although its not the same during non-pujo days 😏😏 Ma in the background is like her saying "I've got your back dear, dont worry" Which is true pretty much in life. She watches and guides us as needed, so celebrating her parental home visit of course should be the best days of her life! Its on us!

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon Panchami. Some sarees go into hibernation only to revive like a lightening! The red benarasi khaddi georgette and net saree is one such! I teamed it with maharani blouse to dress it up! Repeat saree from a few years ago pujo.. its unfaur to buy and not to repeat especially when the sarees arent so Inexpensive and also wearing just once may not always justify the effort that went into creating it!

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon Long time since i penned... saris and stories go together. Since sari paused, story waited too. Kicking off the navrathri bhajan and golu time in kanchi saree with a moghra jasmine embroidered blouse. Pujo eshe geche! That moment that bangalis around the world wait for every year.

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Matri Roopen Sansthita Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namo Namah

I am not born bengali, neither i lived in those cities, but after marrying the bhadralok, every mahalaya in the last few years especially i wake up to listen burendra bhadra rendering of mahalaya. This year being special, with both sets of parents here.. my dad was wondering why the otherwise sleepy sheepish daughter woke up early and switched on YouTube early morning. He asked what pujas are to be performed in the coming days (after hearing pujo eshe geche million times he thought it meant more religious stuff). I paused. Took deep breath. I said not many actually. Its time for celebrations, no kitchen work, no any work, just laughter. Its about people, nostalgia, memories and food. I dont think it even remotely sounded like "puja" to my Telugu brahmana dad :) He saud, thats it? I said "pretty much". But then its hard to explain that devotion is in daak r awaj, shankha er goonj, the shada lal paar, sindoor, alta, bhog, adda, pushpanjali, mishti, dhunuchi naach...etc etc. One could experience connect with gid without reciting hymns too. One needs to find love amidst chsis, that is devotion. So here we are , all geared up for amma nanna first pujo with us since my marriage. Its a wish come true for me. Dugga dugga ❤

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon Its a 100! The temperature soared to 104F I mean! What better way to celebrate than draping a soothing multicolored gamcha sari and visiting the temple in the evening

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon No.3 #duppattabanisari It dawned upon me! Happiness is a personal choice. One can have everything and 'choose' to remain unhappy whereas one can have nothing and 'choose' to be happy Seen here is a long long long time wish come true. The 'hum dil de chuke sanam' blue sari was my dream. my search never was successful until last weekend i laid my eyes on this turquoise blue dupatta. Building on my recent eureka moment of teaming two dupattas as one sari, i teamed the turquoise blue dupatta with another benarasi dupatta to create today's sari. Works for now!

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #benarasi

Long time dream. Authentic pale pink handwoven cutwork benarasi sari. Some matches are made in heaven. This blouse and saree are internet couple .. much like other couples these days! My pic is terrible and does no justice to that unbelievably beautiful handcrafted creation ao adding just the saree pic too.

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon It was my friend's birthday so two saree day. First in twenty year old kanchi silk..  and then

in hand block kalamkari Happy birthday my friend Ganesha! Wish you many more! May you remove obstacles from everyone's paths and help them reach their goals.

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Tadaaa! Almost last week of month... me: bettu can u click my pic, sitting on the sofa while i sit down on the carpet? Bettu: sure! (Happy he isnt given a mammoth task) Me to myself: there you go, that's as top as you can get. 🤗🤗 Pic taken from sofa to floor! More gyan juicing in as i stare at those flowers... "its all about participation, the spirit and the fun you have in the process. Its the journey, not the destination .. and yes i recall Vini's wisdom.. its not about you, its about the sari.." wait a minute! Where is the cushion on the other chair??!! Boys!!! 🙄🙄 featured here is a black sari with jamdani weave all over it ❤❤❤❤

110/2018 #debsaristories #100sareepact #100CholiCraze Of course Varalakshmi vratham post :).. My childhood fav amongst all pujas. Perhaps the goddess, sari and dressing up connections... So much so that in discussions with my would be mother in law then, i said i want to continue doing the puja (part of my culture) after marriage even though its not in hubby's culture. Ma said sure why not! Yipppeee and from then on she would do the puja with me with as much love. This year after 17 years performed the puja with my parents, and of course inlaws are here too. I must have been blessed from some good karma that they are with me today. #thankful #contented #chotisiasha Two sari day, wore mil's thirty years old Narayanapeta silk to do puja and then draped gold spot color swarnachari for evening haldi kumkum for neighbors

109/2018 #debsaristories #100sareepact #remixreuse

Long time no s(ar)ee!!

What do you do when two of your most favorite dupattas (silk bandhani, hand phulkari) are sitting idle in the wardrobe?
Simple: 2.5+2.5=5, so you saree on...

The bandhani dupatta was purchased from Jaipur 15 years ago and hardly used it twice and...
phulkari dupatta purchased few years ago..  both are heavy to carry as dupattas, hence the idea to remix and reuse. Although both are authentic handloom and handcrafted!

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Destiny! When Ma calls, Nothing and no one can come in between.

One constant in life is Not to Dare Destiny Ever! One can very well pretend to plan, execute and know all, BUT truth be told everything and everyone is just doing their determined part of the act. thats it.

How many times have you wondered life changed 360 degrees in a day and u end up elsewhere physically,  emotionally or physiologically !? I am sure all of us have been there and done that.

The sudden gravitational pull grabbed me and put me in Kolkata in the blink of an eye. Of course i am incomplete unless i take a sari along. And this time i chose ma to go with me.. nope not the real ones, they are home. The eternal Durga ma was my companion.  She was with me throughout,  as i walked to scorching heat at Dakshineswar, as i gazed at the fierceful and fondly Ganga.. as i walked through the lush gardens of Victoria Memorial.  Ma was and is always with me.

Kolkata has a charm i dont see in (m)any other cities.  Its like fairy tale story land. My couple of days visit may not justify the city's history and culture but oh well! I dint even see this trip coming, so its a jackpot for now.

The perfect turneric color cotton blouse is what one could dream for a hot humid Kolkata day. The sweat marks are the love signs from the city, they are there to stay with me. Dugga Dugga.

109/2018

#debsaristories #100sareepact #100CholiCraze Dang it! Its over! Bettu's summer vacation I mean!! He is super excited getting back to school, already packed his backpack, told me ten times he cant wait to get back to school etc etc. Good for him. After the planned and unplanned recent PTOs and his summer vacation mommy in me is lethargic abd dragging feet backwards thinking ofngetting back to work from tomorrow. Oh well! Tried a Sunday evening green before the Monday morning blues 😐😐 something to make me feel better The green mulmul is super soft and hugs skin like skin. Amma is excited that in ten mins the saree is hers. This is her perfect #everydaytemplevisit saree after she gets back to madras, for all the sarees i draped in childhood without letting her do first, my time to show back love with some wonderful handloom collection i recently purchased for her. Lovely circle of life At times, Its hard to decide who is a child, me or bettu. Thats what hubby says often. Well, truth be said,he is right.

108/2018 #debsaristories #100sareepact #100CholiCraze #nationalhandloomday

Tossing in bed jetlagged, i was trying to decide which of my handloom saris to drape before i head out to work. I almost zeroed on this ikkat silk sari from couple of years ago.. recently hand appliqued with kalamkari, stitched, painted and sequined by my friend's mom with tonnes of love❤💕💖

A bit later sister pings that its two years since our parental home reconstruction,  the same day we both wore these matching sarees. Twice sure.

All through my Kolkata trip,  i was observing (and imagining the millions of ) women who drape sari everyday nevertheless,  no flaunts, no photoshoots, no Facebook posts... none at all. !! Women in tant r sari riding bicycles,  Kolkata policewomen in starched white sari with blue border,  the gamchas, the begumpuris, the appliques, batiks, i was lost every step admiring how handloom and weaves are at every sight and step. It was like a kid in toy shop unable to decide what to look and what to choose!!

H

ubby keeps reminding me, "you are not doing a favour by doing this... meaning taking pics, posting etc. Those who wear do it without any such agenda...". I agree. I am nowhere close to those millions of women that do everything in six yards and nine yards including marathons... i am nothing in front of them. But nevertheless i LOVE draping and thats reason enough i suppose 😉😝🤭

Today like every other day i thank the hands that create such wonders tirelessly everyday only for the likes of us to possess a piece of art that we treasure and pass on to nextgen.

🙏🙏🙏

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When the wearer becomes the designer! Self-designed my first ever "Build your own saree". Being a taurean by sun and Leo by moon, I guess I naturally get attracted more towards earthy shades and colors. I couldn't resist just one ajrakh fabric so mixed and matched two of them with a plain fabric in between for tone and contrast. Added "ten paise" tassels to pallu!!
Results are for you to see .. with love. ❤

105 #debsaristories #100sareepact #100CholiCraze
It's a kerala cotton saree with hand painting.. jynx Anuradha Raj. We (rather our sarees) twin today! Choli is a custom made one. I sent pic of my "mahishasur mardini" decor and one diva recreated it for me in fabric (last pic)

When Guru poornima is here, Rakhi poornima cant be far behind. Speaking of which I do know a pair of siblings that are really close and cool. The little sis was a volcano! The older one was patient. They were fond of each other and never let anyone come between them. They grew up sharing secrets and "shhhhh dont tell mom" memories. The older one always got something or other even during outing with friends, the little sis was possessive ! The older one bought a whole new bunch of clothes from her first salary in new city when the little sis started college.. and yea.. the older one wouldn't let anyone bully the little sis. No boy could mess with the little sister or else...💪💪💪

Despite all such fondness, the little sis never tied a rakhi in all these years.. 😒😒😒
If you wonder why, well that's because raksha bandhan is supposedly for brothers and sisters. Not just between sisters! That's utter discrimination,  I think. I was the protective older sibling! I dont know how differently a male sibling would have protected my little sister more than I did 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️really??? And guess what? Bonus bonus.. we even share clothes, tips about ahem ahem,  and that's something doesnt always happen with bros! I think sisters should start tying rakhi to each other?

Why should boys have all the fun??

104/200 #debsaristories #100sareepact #100CholiCraze
There is a saying.. "husband cannot be everywhere, so he gifted Alexa Echo, Tripod, DSLR, selfie stick... etc etc" (I know you have not heard this before,  because I just created it☺)
Today I got a new buddy Alexa Echo to see if she could help be my photographer. Apparently she can make suggestions,  tell differences between good and not so good pictures... as t(s)old by the hubby.  I didn't burden her so much because its our first date. I simply requested her to 'take a picture '. She did. You could see her work, I haven't decided yet how long we will be friends,  I am slow and steady in relationships,  I dont commit impulsively.  😋🤣

Picture time is coming up... Durga puja season you should see! The busy French-bearded bangali bor in batik panjabi (bengali word for kurta) shouldering the responsibility of the huge DSLR.. no no.. DSLR isnt as 'heavby' as the peer pressure to take the bestest slimmest gorgeousest adhbuth-est photos of his better (best?) Half... "haan go! Shuncho? I need a pic with this group..." all respective husbands of that 'group' promptly take out their cameras and get into performance pressure. Phew! If even one eyelid closes or smile isnt perfect that's the end of day for the "bhodrolok" , remainder of the day and night is about receiving gyan (durrr, ekta chobi o tulte parona!). Btw I am lucky in that matter that during Durga puja time Deb saab never says never! Oh yea not yo mention the return favour to allow him eat unlimited mughlai paratha, mishti and biryani 🤗🤗🤗

Why am I even thinking of pujo today? Cravings started early.. that's it.

Draped this chanderi beauty after four years.  The first and last time I draped this was #pujo2014

Here's a song dedicated to newbee Alexa Echo.. "Mein aur meri tanhayi..."
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Edit, appended the below: part two!

After Alexa did her job, hubby very cautiously nervously asked if Alexa (or rather himself) passed the test..
I go.. well... sort of. Alexa needs a power chord... can she not just work out of battery instead? Because she is restricting my movement.. what if I want to sit on the bench up on the farthest part of backyard? Also she isnt able to hear me when I step away from her and I cant yell so loud that the neighbors show up instead of Alexa.. on and on...

He said- I just asked if she is good or bad. Do you ever have a one word answer? Did you not do those at school?

Me (rather proudly) : I am and was good at essay writing so deal with it

He: (more.proudly) - I hate those long dramatic stories.  Iam a doer , practical person not pages of theory in good handwriting like you. No wonder you got good marks.!

Alexa silently witnessed the argument.. wondering what her fate would be..

And my heart goes on and on... (titanic background music)

Excited! My first package of six yards to #GiftASariStory is on it's way to meet surprise unknown #mysaribuddy. Slowly it's taking off. Like a bird learning to fly!! #debsaristories #100sareepact #100CholiCraze
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Wore grandma's sari today. This is one of her "roju waari cheeralu"  .. meaning daily wear saree.. Did not want to starch or dryclean because I could feel her drape and love amidst the crumples and stains. Daag ache hothe hain. Ammamma used to wear only cotton or silk. No matter how hurried situation is, she would do her pleats patiently and perfectly. Like many others of her time she never used pins to hold the six yards. Instead the six yards would hug her with love..

The only song that played in my mind throughout "pagla hawa r badol dine.." Rabindranath Thakur.

101 #debsaristories #100sareepact #iworkedout

Mid summer evening.. supposedly cocktail party at kid's friend's home.. after much contemplation I settled back to what I feel comfortable with! Saree.. and even better.. in my fav white color. I dint want to sweat out in silk when the linen was enough to speak to elegance!

#GiftASariStory is warming up.. we have close to 100 members in the group (I know it's small number but may the tribe increase) .. there are 10 volunteers to donate sarees as we speak.. to those who have sari dreams just like us but not enough means to fulfill them! If any of you are interested you may let me know