Heartiest greetings of Bijoya Dashami and Dussera to everyone who's celebrating the auspicious festival. In bengali mythology Bijoya Dashami marks the last  day of magnanimous Durga Puja celebration, Ma Durga's win over Mahisasur and the triumph of good over evil. Its the send off day when we our daughter Uma returns from her maiden home to be with husband Shiva. As we bid farewell, we wish her happiness by smearing sindoor or vermillon, feeding her sweet and water and wiping her face with our anchal. Its such a beautiful tradition where the Goddess is our daughter and we happily dance and celebrate her farewell to wait for another year for her homecoming.

Sindoor khela is thus a beautiful tradition where ladies of all cast, creed, color bond with each other in a festive mood and smear vermilion on each other. Here's a sneak peak into ours at Washington Kali Temple this evening. Although it is a Prabashi Pujo we try our best to stay close to our roots thus all the rituals are carried with utmost sincerity and excitement. 

 Outfit details

I tried to keep it as simple and traditional as I could. Paired my mother's red and white dhakai jamdani with this kantha frilled blouse and gold jewelries. There's nothing much to this look except very simple makeup with a big red bindi or tip which is quintessentially BONG.

Lots of Best Wishes from our home to yours and may Ma Durga bless with all her blessings and liht up your lives with happiness, smiles, dreams and hopes

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If you are still in awe with our first Durga Puja Look we styled in last post  lets bring on yet again another favorite of ours. For the mornings when you walk down to the pandals for a pushpanjali or the evenings you want to sit and enjoy the arati and sit for hours in adda with friends....the most classic, and stylish version of yourself. Bangali and Bangali's Durga Puja are incomplete without a silk and a dhakai. As we have already styled a traditional silk in our previous post its turn for the Dhakai now.

Draping the most gorgeous and traditional Dhakai Jamdani available in the market. It has the age old saw or korat motif weaved very densely all over the body. The color is most unusual...a wine or a garnet shade with bright orange work and golden zari meenakari on it. On my customary trip to Sriniketan , saw this saree draped on a mannequin in the front door and I JUST HAD TO BUY IT. They didn't have a second piece so I had to rob off the saree from the mannequin.

Now comes the most interesting part of the look, the contrast olive green blouse. Those who have previously read my posts know that  I love experimenting with mismatch blouses but this blouse was a find for me.There are flood of blouses with back embroideries in the market now, but this stroked an odd chord with me. I saw this blouse with back embroidery resembling the poster of the classic Satyajit Ray movie Charulata on a Facebook owners profile and again JUST HAD TO BUY IT. I have been an eternal fan of Ray's Charulata, The intelligent, sensitive and strong character of Charulata fascinates me everytime. Her discovery of herself and her emotional turmoil is ever so relevant. Thus this blouse holds a special place in my wardrobe now. Matched this with this favorite Jamdani of mine.

 

I kept the look very easy-to-go with light makeup, a small bindi and silver jhumkas. Its comfortable and wearable for long hours of addas with friends. If you wish you can glam up a little more with flowers in your hair and a heavy silver neck-piece. 

Its one of our favorite looks this season. If you like the post please do like, comment and share it. Your words of encouragement keeps us going. Please do follow us on  Facebook and Instagram for latest updates on the blog.

Getting ready in tropical summers is equivalent to mastering rocket science. Thus sarees take a back seat in our wardrobes...but hey!! how about those ethnic functions you have to attend. You surely don't want to turn up in jeans and tee....and what if you are a sareeholic like us...can you avoid the six yards just because its hot outside! Albeit not...Fabrics like cotton, linen and mul are your god send to save you from the heat. Thus here's a post on how to look cool and be comfortable in a Khadi cotton and not to melt away in a saree.

Wearing this red and white khadi cotton saree which has this beautiful stripe weaves all along. Am told by the seller that its called a "jharna" or waterfall weave saree. It has a contrast green anchal and blouse. The pom pom in the border and anchal adds a cute dimension to the saree. I designed the blouse to be a boat collared one with blue piping and show buttons at the back. It adds a stylish angle to the simple outfit.

Paired a wooden tribal neckpiece with the saree. As the saree was very light and simple, the heavy jewelry kept a nice balance. But if you want you can totally do without heavy jewelry to beat the heat. I did put a bright summery red lip color to bind the whole look together.

What I Wore

Saree: Dushtu Mishti Boutique , Sreerampur, Hooghly, India
Necklace: Bought at International Trade Fair 2018, Kolkata

I hope you enjoyed the look and found some inspirations. If you have liked this look and feel inspired, then please share this post right now with your friends on Instagram and  Facebook. If you want to read our last summer post click here. Leave us a comment or two below so that we know our effort was worth it.

Time for another installment of What We Wore! Finally changed out our pajamas and tanks to preen up for a very special evening. It as the centenary celebration of our Alma Mater, the school that made what we are today. And the heat couldn't beat our excitement. We dressed up in our light weight comfortable silks to join the bandwagon.  

Gokhale Memorial Girls High School has always been known for the confidence, excellence and empowerment it has imparted to women for generations. Thus as the institution touched threshold of 100th year,  a grand celebratory program was held at Nazrul Mancha, Kolkata. We have been extremely fortunate to witness and enjoy this once in a lifetime event.

Sanchita and me chose to wear traditional light weight silks sans zari work. As zari gives a more brighter look chose it to be more classic and sober. Kept the attire comfortable, traditional and also stylish for this sultry April evening.

I got my hands on this peacock blue colored Nakshi Kantha saree from Sanchita's wardrobe (Click here to see how Sanchita wore this same saree earlier) . The color and the intricate bird motif kantha embroidery are the main USP of the attire. Matched it with authentic 5 layer pearl strands and a light makeup.

Sanchita borrowed this off-white and red Assam Silk from Ma's wardrobe. Paired it with a uber stylish bow-back sleeveless blouse. The blouse changed the conventional vibe of the attire. Statement leaf necklace and a big bindi summed up this classic glamorous look.

We spent a lovely evening meeting with old friends and teachers. Here are few snap shots if the evening exclusively for you!