The German friend who taught me about the saree heirloom

 

Representative image. Source:PickPik

This story always gives me goosebumps whenever I share it with someone. That's why I decided to write about it on my blog.

I recently caught up with my friend from Germany, Johanna, whom I've known for over two years now. We finally met in person in June or July of 2023. Our first encounter was with a bunch of friends, so our conversations revolved around common topics, lots of jokes, and laughter.

Johanna was back in Bengaluru for her vacation in 2024, and we got together for dinner three times. What caught my attention was that she wore a saree for two of these get-togethers, and she did it all by herself. I was pleasantly surprised by her elegance in a saree and her ability to drape it effortlessly. She told me she loved wearing sarees; the comfort of the fabric and the endearing experience it offered were her reasons.

But it was during our second meeting that I had an enlightening conversation with her. We decided to go out for lunch, and as it was the day before Makar Sankranti, we naturally started talking about Indian ethnic wear. Johanna asked me why many Indian women don't wear sarees regularly. I shared my personal reason – I wasn't comfortable wearing one. She understood my point but shed light on an aspect I had never considered.

She explained that sarees hold a profound representation of a South Asian culture, and that's what she adores about them. She recounted meeting a friend's mother who had not only preserved her sarees but also those of her mother and grandmother. A legacy for the daughters and granddaughters! I smiled because I had witnessed this in some of my relatives and even in movies. Then Johanna dropped a bombshell, "I feel it's something very special to have such sarees as heirlooms. That's why I never use pins on my sarees!"

I was astounded by her revelation. Did she just say she wears a saree without any pins?

I bombarded her with questions, and she patiently answered them all. 

 

While I won't transcribe our entire conversation here, this is the essence of what I learned:
Johanna deeply values the emotional bond woven into the fabric during special occasions like weddings or when our mothers and grandmothers wore them. These sarees often come with a hefty price tag. Regardless of the era, silk sarees have always been precious. Out of respect for the emotional value and the sarees themselves, Johanna made a promise to herself – no more pins!

Inspired by her love for these six yards of elegance, I decided to wear a saree the next day for the Makar Sankranti celebration at home. And this time, no pins! My saree might already have some holes from the past, but it won't get any new ones.

Thank you, Joe.