#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018 #revivevenkatagiri

Venkatagiri was very popular during my childhood. It was the most valued respected Andhra weave (after Gadwal I suppose) at the time.. unfortunately as time passed by, its cousins like kalamkari, mangalagiri, uppada, gadwal, golabomma, ikat, chirala cotton, ponduru khadi etc etc gained more popularity leaving it a non existent candidate in the list of "staple sarees". I feel bad for it. I used to love the double sided zari venkatagiri sarees neatly wrapped over old newspaper. The sound and hustle was amazing always. When amma asked what i wanted her to get for me, the answer was simple. White venkatagiri saree with broad zari borders in red on both sides. Amma couldnt find the exact combo, so got this instead. Quite close. I love the fine checkered teeny tiny zari weaves all over the sari. I wish venkatagiri picks up more in the coming years... perhaps people like us can make it happen, just like how we brought back ilkals, kalamkaris, bhujodis, begumpuris to life!

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018 Finally, even the extended puja celebrations are coming to a wrap. Ma is truly on her way back to regular business and so are we. Monday is almost here! I wish everyone and their dear ones best of everything in life! I truly enjoyed the little pleasures last few days, just watching smiles, sarees and people spending time forgetting all usual worries of life gives motivation and fresh energy! Positivity and optimism has its own magic. World runs on it and needs more of it. Signing off the pujo season in my first khadi saree. . In pujo combo. When you love something very much, you should have more of it. Thats why the sheuli blouse is again my choice today.. such versatility! Love u all. Ah, if pujo is wrapping up Diwali cant be far away!

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018 Shared lots of "pujo" pics so sharing few "peth pujo" pics! Kolkata . . while you are enjoying real phuchkas there, i am enjoying "diet puchkas" by posing with the background. Sigh! Que sera sera! But this beautiful pale rose pink jamdani saree cheered me up!!💖🤗💖 first time.. faux noodle strap blouse for those like me who dont dare much!

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018 #shubhobijoya

I guess i have been spamming with posts from the past few days.. bear with me for couple of more days as Ma leaves back to her hubby's place.. over the weekend. Today is dashami and actual boron and visarjan. I do it on the ritual day and later do visit other pandals in the city for more glimpses of ma. Dance in front of her is such an amazing feeling. I hope Ma understands how much we love her ❤❤ I am usually private and dont share much about family but today i am sharing my bestie's pic too along with mine. My bestie is none other than my Mil. My ma. May your moms' blessings always guide you in the right path of contentment, peace and happiness Ashche bochor abar hobe, bochor bochor abar jobe, bolo dugga maai ki joiiiiiii

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018

Navami again! This monochrome checks kanji was in wishlist for couple of years and then in closet for couple of years! I fell for its subtlety! Nope, after dreaming 360 times a day for 360 days these 5 days should not fly so fast, but oh well, truth is its almost time for dashami and see off. I don't like that part when my heart is so heavy I feel it in my stomach. Be it Dugga ma or my own moms the 'Bye ma' moment is never comprehendable. Let me deal with it when I get there, for now keep calm and pujo on.

#debsaristories #nopactsareeon #pujo2018 Three sari day actually, but since i posted the first one already, posting the other two now.

1. #durgashtami morning.. Check my other post from earlier today. 🤗
2. Durgashtami evening was time for kanchi with my tweet-y blouse
3. Durgashtami midnight.. sandhi pujo the transition tme between ashtami and navami was red linen with sheuli blouse... of course sheuli or parijatam is Shiva favorite flower and blooms midnight through early hours of the day. Fond memories of me gently sweeping the trees branches so the flowers could fall topsy of the ground and i could pick them and make a garland. General thumb rule - flowers inside the compound wall are mine, outside the wall can be picked by others in the neighborhood. Silly me. Then and now. Ah the smell of parijatham!

#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.

111 #debsaristories #100sareepact

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!

107/200 #debsaristories #100sareepact #100CholiCraze

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.