Saree Travelogue | Six Yards of Elegance | Vacation in a Saree | Fashion Post

I started wearing my first Saree when I was barely a few months old. I think Bengalis can totally relate to this since their journey with the six yards begins with their Annaprashan/First Rice Eating Ceremony, where baby girls are decked up in a Saree. Unfortunately, my Annaprashan never took place (had I been in charge of it, I would have planned it myself), however, the Saree Saga started quite early, thanks to my maternal grandmaa who got me a yellow saree when I was barely a year or two old! Even while I was growing up, I was so fascinated by a saree, that I would often drape Maa’s dupatta as a saree, and pretend play “teacher-teacher”. Then I would wear sarees to School Farewells, on occasions like Poila Boishakh and Freshers, while in college. They would usually be sarees from my mother’s wardrobe, with a mismatched black velvet blouse that would be the sole accompaniment to all the sarees that I draped. It was only after I got married that I started building my own Saree trousseau. My wedding trousseau had as few as six to seven sarees, but each of them were carefully chosen and handpicked, so that I would wear them later on as well. No point in adding to numbers, and not wearing them later!

Coming to my journey about carrying Sarees for a vacation, it all started in 2018 when I had purchased something popularly known as Saree Silhouette from Tia Bhuva. It made my Saree draping so easy and comfortable, that I decided to pack along a saree or two for my vacation. We were visiting the hills, enroute Delhi. I was not very comfortable with wearing Sarees to the hills since we usually have hectic sight-seeing plans. Draping a saree in Delhi seemed to be more feasible. I draped it for my visit to Chandni Chowk, Red Fort and later to a mall that day, and the saree stay out the entire time. Then we next visited Amritsar from Delhi, and I draped a silk saree for my visit to the Golden Temple (it was also my birthday). I did not feel out of place for once, and the experience was very welcoming.

So once the packing sarees for a vacation saga started, I have literally carried a Saree everywhere, be it Puri, Delhi, Amritsar, Varanasi, Agra, and trust me, heads did turn when people see a traveller in a Saree. See when you wear a saree, there are two situations, heads might turn and inspire more women to take this up or eyebrows might frown. But anyway, who cares! Bonus, you get pictures in a saree on a vacation.

Would love to share a few pointers with you, that I have learnt from my own experience, so that in case you are planning to make your saree vacation debut, you too can utilise them.

• Start off by packing one light-weight saree with a comfortable blouse. You can choose from mul cotton, handloom, dhakai, chiffon, chanderi or simply anything that you are comfortable to begin with. The blouse should not be too flashy and preferably in cotton, so that you can wear it throughout the day. Allot a small space in your travel bag for a saree, blouse, petticoat. Trust me, you won’t regret!

• Start wearing sarees on days for your vacation where sight-seeing will be less hectic. It could be a visit to a temple (that usually lasts for a few hours), or a nearby visit to a monument, and somewhere close, so that in case you don’t feel comfortable, you can always head back to your hotel and change into something more comfortable. Try not to wear a saree to the hills for your first visit (you never know where terrains become rough and sight seeing becomes tough!)

• Keep makeup and accessories to bare minimum. While I know it might sound very tempting to match your saree to a full face makeup, but I usually go very light on accessories, usually a small ear stud, hair tied in a bun, and bare minimum kajal and lipstick, so that the focus of attention is the saree alone! Yes, do pair it with a gorgeous brooch that will accentuate the saree and take the look to a different level.

• Wear sneakers beneath the saree for a vacation. Steer clear of flats/high heels. Trust me, nobody cares and nobody will even notice. Comfort should be the main factor, and nothing else!  

• Use enough safety pins so that your saree stays put in place. The pleats need not be perfect. Try not to leave the pallu loose initially. Pin your pallu. Walk confidently, nothing else matters!

• You can even try altering the drape of the pallu. Use it as a scarf around your neck to give it an ooomph factor! During winters, you could layer a saree beneath a long jacket. You will turn heads, trust me! 

My most favourite saree in a vacation memory?

Wearing a saree in Puri, Odisha being 30 weeks pregnant. Nothing felt more special!

That’s it. Our grand maa, mother, aunts have all vacationed in a saree and they did pretty well. There were no Saree Silhouttes back then. if they can, so can we. Just wear that confidence and go for it. 

Just treat it as another clothing option. And yes, most importantly, have fun!

If this post motivates you to pack a saree for a vacation, then do let me know in the comments below. Tag me on your Instagram Stories. Would love to see you turn heads by vacationing in a saree!

My next target? Wearing a saree on every single day of my vacation!