Saree Saga '14- Part-I

Whoever said that celebration cannot overshadow the cause behind it should come and spend Durga Pujo in our city of joy. What must have started out as a solemn week of celebrating the victory of the Good over the Evil has turned out to be the ugliest form of commercialization these days. For most of my non-Bengali friends, this festival is synonymous to wearing sarees, visiting themed pandals, gorging on luchi-kosha mangsho-egg rolls-phuchka and junk of every other kind and of course, the customary bird-watching at Maddox Square. To be honest, my Pujo schedule doesn't deviate much from what I just stated but at times, I kind of miss those innocent days when Durga Pujo used to be about looking out of the windows of our classroom and getting lost into the 'shiuli' and 'kaash' flowers outside or squinting while trying to size up the clouds that looked like dispersed cotton balls. Growing up in a middle class family meant counting every hundred bucks and still running short of accessories to go with my new clothes. Themed pandals were very much in existence but I was lucky enough to experience the charm of traditional Pujos with 'ek chaala thhakur' and the beats of 'dhaak' during my childhood. But with 'shaarod shomman' s and packaged Pujo tours ending at Shobhabazaar Raaj-baari, we didn't even realize when the pure spirit of Pujo got lost in the midst of the glamorization.

                     But then, lamenting over the past would bring us nothing and I personally believe in moving on with the changing times. So, here I am- giving a tribute to our good ol' saree in my own way! I was supposed to be the proud owner of this saree by Howrah Bridge long back but somehow, it got delayed. But, as they say, better late than never! I've never felt sexier in a saree! And that's why I thought THE saree deserves to be the opening batsman in the saree series I've planned to do on ze blog. Enjoy the pictures while I go back to gorging on the bijoya sweets.

Saree, blouse- Howrah Bridge, earrings- New Market, ring, jeggings- B.K.Market, shoes- Metro Plaza, bindi- local shop, lipstick- MAT4 Bold Matte by Maybelline

Picture Credits-Debi( who has also been sweet enough to feature me on her blog; click on the link and read the post if you haven't already!)

P.S. This was my Navami/Dashami outfit. Stay tuned for more Pujo outfits and details of an awesome hill trip coming up! Till then, shubho bijoya to all of you and like I always say, keep it stylish.

Sari tales...

For the people belonging to this part of the world,Saraswati Pujo is hailed as the Bengali Valentines' day.I'm not that fond of the original Valentines' day itself,let alone the Bengali version of it.When I was a kid,Saraswati Pujo meant dressing up in my mother's too subtle for a five or six year old silk saris and feeling claustrophobic after an hour or two.In the early teen,it meant settling for the best zari-embroidered sari possible to impress the dishiest guy around.Then,as I grew up,Saraswati Pujo started holding less and less significance for me.It just became one of those rituals which was blown out of proportion and therefore,made me hate it with a lot of passion.But I love wearing sari occasionally though.I still do.And given my hectic schedule,I hardly get to wear something as lazy and time-consuming as a sari.I'm graduating this year.So,attending Saraswati Pujo as a student comes to an end,finally.I thought I should grace my college with a visit this year.But I was busy with a lot more things.So,didn't get to plan my outfit properly.

The sari was a Durga Pujo gift from my aunt but I didn't get to wear it on Ashtami,thanks to the desperation of meeting a friend I hardly get to see in spite of living in the same city and a hookah session that lasted a little too long.I had no other occasion to wear it thereafter.So,I decided,Saraswati Pujo it is.
                                                                                                                                 Like I said,I didn't have too many fancy things at my disposal.Fashion Bombay announced the arrival of 'pile all your bracelets up,ditch the minimalist elite snob in you' trend.So,I took the bangles out from my closet.The goldens and browns looked too matchy-matchy.So,I added the current favorite silver owl pendant and the pretty but somewhat flashy silver jhumkas(not visible in the pictures,*Tears*),apart from the silver nose ring I've been sporting these days,just to add a little contrast.I'm in love with this vintage Kolhapuris for a long time.So,they were an obvious choice.And I threw in the Taj Mahal embroidered Rajasthani sling on my sari because well,
i)I love it to death.
ii)Not too many people carry slings with saris.
iii)I love to stand out.
But sadly,even the sling isn't visible in the picture.No brownie points for my photographer for sure!*Wink*