My saree story: How I got on the saree bandwagon?

I have decided to participate in the ‪#‎100sareepact‬ where one should wear saree at least 100 times in 2015. I had read about it in The Brunch by HT this Sunday. This is an initiative by two women, Ally Matthan and Anju Maudgal Kadam, and is an attempt to bring back the saree in mainstream. I do wear a saree to office at times (more frequently in Summers than in Winters) and I can remember at least 8 instances when I have worn a saree in 2015. So, I have started today with number nine.

To be honest, I am a bit excited about this. It's been long since I have actually participated in something that I love doing anyway but something that becomes a social craze suddenly (does it sound like a vain craving for social acceptance?). So, I am also eager to share my saree story here i.e. how I actually got on the saree bandwagon.

As a kid, I often saw my mother wearing a saree off and on, mostly on special days like a festival, anniversary or a family function but also often on routine summer days. She looked beautiful - slim, petite and very elegant. That's how I started loving sarees. Just like all girls, I was excited about 12th standard Teacher's Day Role Play in school and the school farewell, both of which mandated sarees in my school. Both these sarees were chosen with a lot of care and deliberation mostly because I could not decide between the lovely sarees in my mom's collection. Then studies and job happened and sarees took a back seat. Even when I got married, I only bought a few designer sarees which were restricted to only formal occasions.

Only in 2010 when I joined a very vibrant and well-known MNC in the financial sector where my female boss wore beautiful and colourful silk, cotton silk and tussar silk sarees (I think so but I am usually clueless about the kinds of sarees and their textures) did the saree bug started tickling me again. Two years later, I got into another role, relatively senior, in another department and I decided even before shifting that I will start wearing sarees right at the outset itself (mostly starting suddenly involves many stares and questions about "aaj koi special day hai?" and that invoked a bit of hesitation). And I did start wearing them usually once a week basis at least in summers. I must say it helped me a lot. My new role also involved me taking risk management trainings for all Finance staff including some very senior management team members and donning a saree on those occasions made me look and feel confident. I think a saree automatically brings grace to a female, transforming her from a girl into a lady. One usually wears it with at least a little bit of heels, and with a saree one automatically tends to walk tall with back straight. All in all, it spells grace and it spells confidence. I have since switched roles and jobs and I continue to wear sarees to work off and on. I am not as slim and as petite as my mom, so I restrict myself to georgette and chiffon sarees but I also have a few silks and a favourite art silk saree that I wear often.

Here's a peek into my #9/100. (Please ignore the black box which I used for privacy purposes). It's a long way to go as I see people posting their 30th or so picture but I am just too excited to be part of this.