When you are an immigrant, you try to adopt lifestyle, culture, and social norms of your new home. When you are new, excitement and fitting in and survival in new environment takes over everything. Have you ever felt the same way?
We don’t even realize, but slowly on the name of comfort, convenience and adopting new home we start giving up what we were used to. instead of elaborated Indian meal, We adopted sandwiches and pastas and salads as our meals. which I have no complain about appreciate the diverse meals we enjoy now.
We limit our Indian attires to some religious festival temple visits or visits to Indian friends, but from Monday to Friday, our life is all about western office wears.
when I started working, I went through the same cycle. Then started wearing saree for Diwali in the office or for some Indian events but last year I decided to break that pattern and thought I should wear Saree whenever I want to. Why should I wait for the festival?
This year, as the weather warmed up, I decided to wear Saree once a week. in the beginning people would ask if there was anything special. now they’re getting used to it. It was really interesting when in the elevator a young Indian man commented how delighted he was to see someone wearing Saree.
Wearing a saree was never just a fashion choice for me; it was about acknowledging my identity . I don’t want to choose between belonging and being myself. I don’t HAVE to CHOOSE between A dress, or a pant and saree. I never thought that this smallest act will lead to some conversation, curiosity and appreciation.
I am enjoying this small change, hoping to continue– One saree at a time.
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