SUBHO BIJOYA greetings for all our readers, friends and family. Hope you all had a wonderful Durga Puja/Navratri celebration. With this starts another year of waiting for Ma Durga to arrive on this mortal earth. But fear not, we have several grand festivals lined up for the next few months. We express our gratitude for the overwhelming response to our blogposts on Durga Puja lookbook. We have also been recieving requests on our Facebook and Instagram pages to share how we actually dressed up for Durga Puja. As both the sisters living in US, the celebrations were restricted to mainly weekends. So we thought of publishing some of our looks from the weekend in this post. Hope you enjoy them.

Look 1

Moumita wearing Madhubani printed pure silk saree with some statement junk jewelries. Kept the hair simple and straight, added dark burgundy lip color to match with the fall season in this part of the world.

Saree from Adi Dhakeswari Bastralaya, Gariahat, Kolkata, India

Neckpiece from hawkers stalls, Gariahat, Kolkata, India

Earrings handmade by a dear friend, Titli Maitra

Leather purse from Karukrit, Bolpur, West Bengal, India

Watch fro Fossils

Look 2:

Sanchita, wearing Nakshikantha on peacock blue Bangalore Silk saree. It has intricate bird motifs hand embroidered all over the saree. Paired with a matching blouse, long dangler pearl jhumkas, golden batua purse and simple light makeup.

Saree from Karukrit, Bolpur, West Bengal, India

Gold Batua purse gifted by a friend, source unknown.

Earrings from Gariahat, Kolkata, India

Look 3

Hot pink Chanderi benarasi draped in sidha pallu style by Moumita, over a contrast aubergine benarasi blouse. Accessorized the look with oversized chandelier earrings, a statement palm ring, Gujarati sling bag and a contrast green bindi. The look gives a very typical Navratri feel.

Saree from Adi Mohini Mohan Kanjilal, College Street, Kolkata, India

Earrings from Vijatha COllections, Virgina, US

Palm Ring from Bilu da's Boutique, Kolkata, India

Bag from hawkers market, Gariahat, Kolkata, India 

Look  4 

The final look for the pujo is by Sanchita. Wearing a gorgeous ivory colored Kanjeevaram saree with gold and red border,  teamed with a contrast  rich ikkat weave blouse. Paired up with gold jewelleries and red bindi for a quintessential bengali look on Dashami.

Saree from Sundari Silks, Chennai, India
Bloused material from Geeta's, New Market, Kolkata, India. Designed by Sanchita
Gold jewelry from N.P Jewelers, Gariahat, Kolkata, India 

I hope you enjoyed all the looks and found some inspirations through them.

If you have liked these 4 looks and feel inspired, then please share this post right now with your friends on Instagram and  Facebook. Leave us a comment or two below so that we know our effort was worth it.

Makeup and styling credits: Moumita and Sanchita on their respective looks

Photography credits: Kapildeb Ambal and Debasish Barik

After a sure-shot Shaptami (here) and Ashtami (here) style plan which we told you, make sure you are ready to make onlookers astounded with your final Navami evening look. According to mythological stories, Goddess Durga’s battle against Mahishasur, the king of demons lasted for nine days. The ninth day is the final day before the Goddess won over the evil with her power and wisdom. This is the last night before we send off Ma Durga to Kailash after celebrating her victory over evil, and wait again for the next year. So its the last opportunity to absorb all the fun and frolic and loose ourselves in the festive spirit for the year. Thus the fanfare certainly gets intense during Navami and this post today is all about this dazzling Navami look.

If you have read our style stories on the Shaptami  or Ashtami looks earlier, you have noticed that the festive fashion tone started with a chic grey for Shaptami and transitioned to an elegant red and white for Ashtami . But for Navami, the attire and the attitude will indeed be more flamboyant. If there are more than one days to a festival, why would you get stuck with one style? So on Navami, have put on a half and half bright orange and electric blue saree.

 The saree has a georgette fluorescent orange upper portion, with gold and hot pink geometric pattern around the hem and pallu.

The other half is electric blue net with intricate, wide gold embroidered border, almost as in Manipuri Raslila skirts (the elaborate skirts worn by Manipuri brides ). This  saree came with a  fancy blue full sleeved blouse which I decided to ditch owing to the sweaty weather. Chose this stylish sleeveless blue silk blouse that rounded out the look so well. With my hair in a small bun adorned and covered with an oversize flower, I finished out the look with a pair of dazzling long earrings. Kept my other jewelries minimum and added a bright orange lip to keep the look simple yet gorgeous for the special eve.

Considering my last two Durga Puja appearances in ethnic sarees, this sighting in a flamboyant designer saree made for a refreshing change for its modern style. Every woman should at least have one georgette designer saree for fancy outings, where you want to drape the saree quick and can deviate from the traditional ঘরোয়া (homely) saree look. Being able to wear this stunning saree was exhilarating as it had been lying in my closet for sometime now. The contemporary design of this saree, made by a very dear designer friend Kunaal Basaak is a treat to my personal style senses. It is visually stimulating, bright and eye-catching than one can imagine! It brightens up the ambiance for the final night of the puja fanfare.

On that parting note, wishing you all happy Navami! Bong mania overloaded team wishes all its friends and families who celebrate this festival – Shubho Sharodiya! As this is the last look for this Durga puja, I hope you enjoyed all the posts and found some inspirations through them.

  If you have liked these 3 looks and feel inspired, then please share this post right now with your friends on Instagram and  Facebook. Please also do share your looks with us by tagging us @bong mania overloaded on Facebook or simply #bongmaniaoverloaded on Instagram. Leave us a comment or two below so that we know our effort was worth it.

What Was I Wearing?

Saree from Kunaal Basak
Blouse designed: Yours truly Sanchita
Earrings from Sam Moons, Houston, TX, USA
Hair & Makeup: Yours truely Sanchita
Concept & styling: Yours truly Sanchita

Photography: Rabindra Kumar Kundu

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Durga Puja/ Navratri season is back! You can literally feel the positive vibrations electrifying the air. We Bongs call it পুজোর গন্ধ! At this time of the year, we just want to forget our stress and miseries and get allured in puja vibes. For most of us, Durga Puja is one of the most beautiful times of the year to grab some of the yummiest treats, buy awesome gifts at highly discounted sales and wear our best traditional outfits. 

Speaking of traditional outfits, with all the festivities to attend and be part of this extravagant celebrations, you got to look the part! Thus we have come up with a saree look-book for 3 days of Durga Puja or Navratri.  After sharing our Shaptami Day look here, in this post, I’m sharing my Ashtami look. It’s all about bringing the traditional quintessential saree style back! Bengalis are known for their red and white sarees and thanks to Bidya Bagchi of Kahaani fame the whole world knows what we chose to wear during our Durga Puja. Also, bengali women who love sarees cannot have enough of jamdani weaves. Thus we had to put together a look with both these Bong favorites, so here it goes, red and white jamdani for Ashtami puja 🎉🎉🎉

As most of you know by now, I am not a big fan of styling my sarees conventionally, thus wore this traditional dhakai jamdani with a black off-the-shoulder crop top blouse. It gives this quintessential saree look a much needed edge.

Draped the saree in traditional Bengali আটপৌড়ে style, tied the pallu end on my wrist . Also if you notice, my pallu pleats are more casually pinned to give a softer look than a form fitted pleated one.

This look can be sported on morning  Ashtami puja or even carried to any evening pandal hopping or Sandhi puja. Am sure you'll grab some amazed eyeballs in the crowd.

A side messy-meets-softer bun in wavy hair worn with a traditional saree is one look I like to wear in a heartbeat.Skipped the necklace part and finished look with an over-sized stone stud which is a spin-off to the traditional gold stud or kaan pasha. Added a small bindi and alta and bold red lips to enhance the traditional look. Minimal accessories makes this look stand out and much more wearable for an Ashtami adda. You can tweak this look and make it your own wearing a gorod or traditional gold jewelry. But with this fusion saree look less is more, so try not to overdo with hair and accessories.

Share your Durga Puja/Navaratri Look on Facebook and Instagram tagging us or simply #bongmaniaoverloaded, we will repost the ones we love most.

What Was I Wearing?

Saree from Jamdani Ghar in Kolkata, India 

Crop top Blouse from , Forever 21 , City Creek Mall,  UT, USA

Earring from Sam Moon, Houston, TX, USA

Clutch from Delhi, India

Enjoy your festive days and let us know how you liked the look 😊😊😊

Durga Puja or Navaratri is celebrated among Hindus all around India with great fervor. Specially for the Bengali community in West Bengal its the biggest and most important occasion/festival of the year. Beyond barriers of culture and religion its celebrated with vigor and zeal. Durga puja in West Bengal is twinned with unique emotions which cannot be expressed but experienced. Like last 6 years am outside my motherland during this best time. But as there is a famous bengali saying that husking machine will husk the rice whether in heaven or hell ( ঢেঁকি স্বর্গে গিয়েও ধান ভাঙে !!) 😄....so even when not around their land, bongs can never be without Durga Puja. Thus all around the world Bengali communities celebrate Durga Puja in various scales. 

Durga Puja or Navaratri is not only a religious festival to honor the goddess Durga but a merry feast and social event with many secular elements. During the nine (for people celebrating Navartri) to five-day event people pay tribute to the goddess, people make offerings to her in ceremonies, pray, hop numerous pandals, meet friends and family, eat delicious spreads. Its all about fun and frolic that Maa offers on her stay on the earth. People look forward throughout the busy for these few days to get respite from daily lifestyle. It is a time for family and friends to reunite, enjoy special festival delicacies get decked up new clothes and have fun. It is also a time when people shop till they drop for new clothes, jewelry, and household items as well as gifts. Talking about shopping and dressing up, which is exactly the main objective of this post- to inspire and influence your Durga puja looks.

Over the next three posts, I am going to share 3 different looks (keeping the essence of the festival in mind) that we have conceptualized and styled with outfits and accessories from our own wardrobe for all of you to take some inspiration and style yourself in your own unique ways. Here goes the first one-

 I chose the first saree outfit to be simple yet sensuous. Although there may be rolling eyes to the later part. I keep on reading posts on how plus size women shouldn't wear sleeveless or how petite should wear loose fitted clothes. I get frustrated on how these societal preferences pressurize and influence your our own style. I am happy with my body and so should you. So experiment with different options and find out what suits you best and make you feel happier. So first outfit is conceptualized for an ideal Sashti or Saptami day/afternoon when you are having casual outing with friends or going for lunch and pandal hopping. Its filled with comfort for the long hours of walking or being outside . You can easily carry forward this look to your evening "adda" sessions. I have chosen this simpler grey cotton handloom saree to pair with a contrast blue net crop-top to amp up the style quotient. 

I decided the look to be simple and smart. Kept my hair loose, finished the look with kohl smudged eyes with a hint of shimmer , and nude lips. Paired it with my favorite leather handmade purse, silver hanshuli choker and an interesting silver palm-ring. The tip here is to style your regular simple sarees with stylish blouse and accessories.

Happy Durga Puja!!!

What Was I Wearing?

Saree a gift bought from Sonar Bangla, Howrah, (WB, India)

Crop top from A'gaci (Bought from store in Galleria Mall, Houston, USA)

Silver choker from Gariahat Hawkers Market, Kolkata, India

Palm-ring: Forever21 (Bought from store in Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg, MD, USA)

Watch: Fossils (Bought from store in Clarksburg Mall, MD, USA)

Leather Clutch: Karukriti, Bolpur (WB, India)

Hair, Makeup and Styling by yours truly Moumita

With the festival season at our doorstep it would be a good idea to zero  upon what to wear. As ardent saree lovers (hope its  no secret anymore!) we're partial towards the 6 yards for your festival wardrobe. But for some of us mere mortals saree draping and surviving in it is an ordeal. Thus we thought that finally we should equip our readers with some tried and tested saree tricks which actually works!! By the way, its also one of our "on public demand" post 😊 . So we hope this small tips will make your saree experience a more comfortable one. So here you go ladies!!! 🥁🥁🥁🥁

OUR TOP SAREE HACKS/TIPS


1. To secure a saree: The first challenge of draping sarees for many  is to keep it on for the desired length of time and avoid the embarrassment of you know what 🤢🤢. The best trick is to tie a knot where you begin the drape. It will secure the saree till you want to undrape it 🤗and you can safely move around in it. Even if you step on the saree the first knot of your saree will keep it secured in place.

2. Saree pleats falling off😰 : If you are among the ones who have nightmares about stepping on your sarees and your saree pleats falling off .... drum rolls 🥁 again...we have a tip for it as well: pin the pleats together. Once you shove them inside your petticoat, put a safety-pin from inside to secure the pleats with the petticoat. Voila!!! you can dance the whole night in your favorite saree now.

3. Pallu at the right place: If your heavy pallu is disabling you from moving your hands up and down and coming off often....pin your pallu with the blouse on the back and not on your shoulders. This will keep it in place and let you move your hand comfortably.

4. In case you want the pallu loose but.... in doubts as you cannot handle the heavy palla looking like a big pile of fabric your hand. please gather the pallu up to your elbow and pin it there from inside. it will look cleaner and the pallu won't get on your way as well.

5. Select the right undergarment: Please wear your bra according to your blouse. It becomes uneasy if they are peeking out. It has happened to me and trust me, instead of enjoying my saree outing  all my attention went to my bra straps and several trips to toilet to fix it 😣!! There are several options available these days so pick according to your blouse. 

6. Saree height matters!  PLEASE! don't wear your sarees above your ankles. may be its comfortable while walking, But looks odd. Wear heels if you like that extra height.

7. Tame the pleats🤗: Use a hair straightener to tame the disobedient pleats, if you are in a hurry and don't have them to pre-pleat your saree.

8. Heavily starched saree🤕 : You can do a happy dance and thank me after reading this hack. On stiff heavily startched sarees like taant, spray a little water before draping it. It will be easier to drape and by the time you finish draping, it will be as good as new.

9. Avoid safety pin tears in saree: To avoid safety pin tears in your precious saree, insert a ball or a bead inside the safety pin or use double tack pins.

10. Avoid safety pin tears in blouse: To avoid safety pin tears in blouse, cut a waterproof band aid into two pieces and paste them on either side of the blouse. VOILA!!

11. To avoid sweat stains: Many of us regret wearing our favorite brocade blouse on hot and humid days as the underarm sweat would inevitably leave a nasty 😷 mark on it. Here's a hack you can use to avoid this embarrassment, use  an underarm pad or cut the sanitary napkin in two and stick to the armpit area of the blouse.

So did you find the hacks useful? Let us know in the comments below. Add in if you have any personal tips which you would want to share with us!! Hope to hearback from you all....enjoy your festivals and have fun with your six yards.