We recently watched a video that has gone viral where a saree clad woman was denied entry in a restaurant, on the pretext that only smart casuals were allowed there. According to them, saree doesn’t come under smart-casual dressing. The lady tweeted about it and raised a very pertinent question, “Is saree not a smart casual dressing?”
My answer would be: It is! It is smarter over any casual. It is the most appropriate attire to be worn anywhere right from temple to hotel. The lady was looking smart over all those skimpy clad women, we see in restaurants. Moreover, the saree is an integral part of our culture and our national pride too. (Remember Indian Women Hockey Team wore beautiful tri-colour Sarees for formal dinner in Chak De! India)
Yesterday, while watching Ms Malini Awasthi, the Padma Awardee Folk-Singer, expressing concern over it, she said, “One should be free to wear saree at any place, on any occasion, across age groups. Saree is our pride, it looks cool and trendy, besides being traditional and conventional. I wear a saree as everyday wear and, on all occasions, as well. How can you classify or de-classify a saree like that?”
Talking about her recent Kashmir sojourn, she shared, “Few ladies walked up to me in the hotel’s reception, who had recognised me and asked me: Are you here for attending a marriage? I replied: No, I am here for a youth program. But why are you asking? They said, we are watching you in beautiful red Banarsis for the last two days, so we thought, maybe.”
Her viewpoint was: Why to wear Benarsis on occasions only, you can wear it whenever you like, for that enhanced feel and beautiful looks. There is no better way to honour the weavers who have woven these beautiful sarees taking great pains which you have left to rot in the trunks. Why look for an occasion, every day is an occasion for draping a saree. I wear sarees at airports, programs, concerts, talks, morning walks, evening strolls and family functions.”
Indeed, it let me pondering, why do we need an occasion to wear a saree? We need to create an occasion ourselves and drape the saree, which is crying for our attention in the cupboard or truck. Saree can be as classic and as trendy, as it could be. If you team up with a traditional or Kurti-style blouse, it is traditional, if you opt for halter sleeves or the backless choli, it would look cool.
Saree, also called Sari, is the most famous Indian attire worn by women not only in India but all over the world. It is because of its flexibilitythat it has grabbed attention since time immemorial. A saree makes a woman look elegant, gorgeous and stylish.
It is important how you carry yourself…the swag you display…the attitude you throw. There is a need to take pride while dressed in a saree. However, strong action should be taken on places and people that ‘object women’ to wearing saree and ‘objectify women.’
The Sari Club has awakened this long-lost love for saree and is consistently curating events for us which give us a chance to wear a saree and put chaar chand to the occasion!
Let’s fall in love again…kyunki saree hai sada ke liye!
Travel-Knots 