Sari Torture


Its that time of the year. The time all A/L students both anticipate and dread. It’s the time of graduation parties, valedictory dinners or batch parties. There are many a names, but for most it means one thing; hours in an uncomfortable suit or sari.

As a female who was put through the torture that is six yards of cloth, wrapped around your body, I do not wish such pain on anyone else. Now most of us hadn’t worn sari prior to these parties, or nights or dinners. It’s not just getting used to an exposed tummy, or a dress that reaches your ankles, it’s the jacket that is tight. It is the hair do on a day your hair decides it hates you. It is the make up, no matter how little, and the heels you must wear when in sari or your mother thinks the world will end. Not to forget the little purse you have to carry because your sari has no place for phones or money. Unless you want to do that ‘weird Aunty’ thing by stuffing things down your jacket!

Then there’s the business of answer nature’s call without taking off the well-pinned sari or peeing on your dress. Now saris always seem like they are about to fall off. No matter how many pins you use. So no one, especially a first time sari wearer will want to risk a pulled out sari to empty her bladder. So we look at the other option, stay away from the liquids and try not to think about needing to pee!

I wore a one inch heel. My cousin wore a more than two inch heel. Guess who spent the next day nursing her aching feet? So unless you are like me, you will be forced to dance, you’ll have to walk about and you will have to spend sometime standing. So wear comfy footwear, and preferably something you have worn before. Also whenever you can, stay barefoot.

Make sure your jacket fits right and your sleeves don’t keep falling off. Wear something that is comfortable. You don’t want to spend the night fearing any wardrobe malfunctions.

Now when choosing your sari, buy something you or your mother or someone can wear again. Do not buy something just because your friends are buying something like that. Get a color and design or whatever you like. Don’t go for those heavy ‘old lady’ saris. Choose a color that suits your skin tone. Make sure the cloth doesn’t itch!

Jewelry, keep it to a minimum! Don’t try to wear all accessories ever invented. You can’t choose a necklace, earrings, bracelets and a whole lot more. You’ll be wearing them all night. Choose simple and light jewelry.

Ladies, or rather girls, think carefully about what you are going to wear and how you are going to wear it. The day you wear that sari is the day you go from being a girl to a woman. Okay, not really, but it will really make you feel like a woman. So seize the day. But seize the day in something comfortable.

Also do not trip over the fall of your sari. It’s called a fall for a reason. Now that your fall is to blame if you are wearing six inch shoes!

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