When we moved to the USA, I didn’t bring any of my traditional Indian clothes. The sarees I gave away to my mom and most of the suits I had were fugly. When you packing your life’s content into 3 suitcases, outfits that you wear once or twice year are not really your priority. I didn’t have any bindi nor bangles. Oh I did have my mangalsurtas because my mom forced me to bring it.
After our move to CO, the ladies here have monthly bhaajans and poojas. In the past 2.5 years, I have attended countless poojas and bhaajans, more than I have attended in the previous 25 years of my life. Whenever Sonia(my 2nd sis) calls me, I would tell her I am going to yet another bhaajan and she would laugh.
Everyone at these functions dressed up to the nines. Sarees of the latest fashion and low cut blouses, fashionable salwaar suits with the short kurtas and patiala pants. And there was I. In jeans or black pants with kurta like blouse I managed to find at Marshalls or TJ Maxx.
These ladies gave me a hard time and refused to believe that I didn’t bring a single saree with me. They couldnt understand how I could come like that. In fact, I had a huge argument with them about this same topic. Why I dont wear saress and all that. Now I am rambling. back to the main topic.
When I was in India, I went a bit crazy. Bought 5-6 sarees, and 7-8 salwaar suits. Not only that, each outfit was complete with its own matching bindi, bangles and jewellery. Now all I had to do was wait for invitation and show those beep beep what I am capable of. Didnt have wait very long.
Yesterday, we were invited to celebrate Ganesh pooja. Deciding what to wear was tough? Should I go for my cotton navy blue salwaar suit or the light blue banana silk saree we bought from Agra. Should I wear my long mangalsutra or the short funky one? Or discard both and wear my pearl set? Decisions Decisons. Me, who didn’t have one single suit and now has all these combinations to wear and choose from.
Finally I choose one and took my time. When we entered the house, there was a collective gasp. I will let the pictures do the talking.
Edited to add: Ashwina had worn this the previous week when we went to the temple. She refused to take any pictures yesterday because a)she wore the same outfit and b)she had just returned from a soccer match(which her team won 5-1) and was extremely tired.
*The title is from my sis Sonia, who I chatted with yesterday.
Nice and Indian. Is supposed to be copyright ok. I can imagine the GASP you got from those ladies. What did they say?? I like Ava’s outfit, very cool.
Me:They said, “Oh tum bahut achi lag rahi ho” And you can only copyright if you have a blog. na na na
Wow!!! u look so pretty!
But ofcourse why do other ladies behave so superciliously and deem saree wearing so important?
Me:*blushes* Thanks Reema. And who knows why they are so concerned about what I wear or dont wear. My dh thinks it because they are(were) trying to become my saas, jatani(elder sis-in-law).These are the same people who I wrote about in one of the comments I left you about religion and all
Sunita, you look so BEAUTIFUL! Not just the clothes, but you look like you really feel great about yourself. I love the smirk you’re wearing in the second picture.
I can’t wait to see more pictures in future outfits.
(PS, the kids look amazing as well and I can’t believe our BIO’ers are turning four)
Me:Hi Angie. The smirk was for something NK said. And No I cannot believe our babies are turning 4. You should come back and post on BIO. We miss you there. You know DJ is having her 3rd?
You go girl!!!!Show them wat u got..Those mfs…What do they think…
U look nice.Mum will be so proud of u.Wif the bangles and sindoor and all…Pretty…
Ava looks cute..And nei.Seems he like was forced to wear it..Where is Ashwina?
Me:Neil, you know with his “But this itches mummy” I was surprised when he agreed to wear it. I was thinking Mum wouldnt be able to recognise me.
I like the choice of sari!
Me:Thanks. I think its going to be one of my favs.
Oh wow, you look beautiful!
Now I know I shouldn’t throw out all my mother’s sarees once I move out!
Me: Oh dont throw out anything. You should save them, even if you think you are NEVER going to wear them. One day you will, trust me!
Nice pics…Absolutely LOVED Avasha’s outfit. She looks Adorable! And so does Neil. What were Ashwina and Samar wearing?
Me:Hey Priyanka. I updated the post with what Ashwina was wearing. Samar, I had a very cute vest and dhoti thing and he absolutely refused to put it on. I tried and tried and then finally gave up. he had on jeans and a onesie.
You all are looking sooooooooo lovely!!
LUVVELY!!
*Fabulous*!!
Thats too bad that Samar refused to wear it, I’m sure he would have looked real cute in a lil dhoti
Just visualizing him in it makes me smile 
You guys look fab. Why do the other desis care what you wear, though? I tell you, you can take the people out of the des but not the des out of the ppl!
Babe, you rock….and your kids look edible…
awwww all of you guys look so beautiful!!! sooooo ‘fuckin’ beautiful :p
Me:Be careful Roop, You dont want that troll to get on your case because of the F word!