Happy Dussehra everyone! Today is Dussehra in India. This special occasion, which takes place the day after the nine nights of Navaratri, marks the defeat of the demon king Ravana by Lord Rama. It also celebrates warrior Goddess Durga’s victory over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura.
Dussehra is an important family occasion — a sari wearing, feet touching occasion! — so my husband and I spent the day with the family. And yes, I did dress up. Despite the fact that it meant I had to travel sitting sideways on my husband’s motorbike, like a true Indian woman.
An integral part of Dussehra is the Ayudha Puja (worship of implements used to earn a living). Yesterday, my husband spent the day helping my father-in-law clean his workshop. Today, we gathered there for the puja. My father-in-law has a furniture shop, so we worshiped his carpentry tools.
Participating in the puja.
Tools after the puja.
The Ayudha Puja was particularly special because it was my little nephew’s first one. He’s five months old now, and has grown so much since he was just born.
Me and my nephew.
He’s wearing lots of “scary makeup” today, to keep away the evil eye.
Me and my nephew again.
After the puja, we ate, relaxed and had fun. The apartment was full of laughter, chatter and silliness.
My nephew wearing a spiderman mask.
On another note, the lift in the apartment building was broken. Infact, according to the sign, it’s been “shut” for 75 days now. And counting!
Announcing the broken lift.
Most of the dismantled lift was still laying in front of the building. It shows no signs of getting fixed any time soon! It’s a very difficult situation for the older people in the building, who have to climb the stairs in the heat. The building isn’t a big one. It only has around six floors (my in-laws live on the fourth floor), but it’s still a challenge to get to the top. My mother-in-law goes out numerous times a day, and it’s certainly a struggle for her. Apparently she’s lost seven kilograms from climbing up and down!
Me wearing a sari.
Last of all, one more picture for those who can’t quite get over the shock of seeing me in a sari! This sari is the first sari I ever owned, so it’s a bit special. My husband gave it to me when we were in Kolkata. He had no idea what I liked but wanted to surprise me. Apparently, he gave a similar sari to his mum earlier and got a favourable response, so brought one for me! Very wise!
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Apparently, he gave a similar sari to his mum earlier and got a favourable response, so brought one for me! Very wise!
Very wise indeed.
You are looking awesome.So very cute.
Dussehra is an important family occasion — a sari wearing, feet touching occasion!
So,did u do any “feet touching”????
OMG….you sure you are not an Indian born girl LOL
Damn you….do you have a younger sister interested in settling down with an Indian guy LMAO…just kidding….
Happy Dussehra to you and your family too….
Thank you both! I do think I was Indian in a past life.
Ronny — yes, three pairs of feet! And mine got touched once. It’s funny, my in laws used to shoo me away and laugh when I went to touch their feet. Now they actually ask me to do it. They love it, although I think my father in law gets embarrassed. He says, okay enough, if I touch his feet for too long!!
Apoorv — so sorry to disappoint you but I’m an only child.
Awe Sharell…you look so beautiful! This post made me smile big time.
I’m getting my first sari and lehenga…wedding attire
I’ve never photographed a wedding an a dress before…much less a long one…this should prove interesting.
I cannot seriously believe that you are NOT Indian… You look like one of Raja Ravi Verma’s painting of Indian Apsaras has come to life … Sorry time to close my mouth now …
Beautiful, Sharell! You carry the sari very well. The colors are great too!
The Dussehra festivities look like a lot of fun! Your nephew is adorable.
There is a big Diwali celebration in this area that I’m looking forward to…and a chance to wear one of my new saris, which I never get to wear enough around here.
You look Great!
A very Happy Dussehra and Happy Deepawali ( in Advance )
Oh!! Your nephew look sooo cute, especailly those eyes, big and wide all knowing..lol..you look great. Can’t believe this is your first sari!
hey sharell… u look amazing the sari… personally i feel that wearing a sari is a nuisance but there is something about the sari that I wanna wear it on every festival. Diwali is on top of the list… This is the first time I am commenting on your blog… But I would prefer following your blog from my blog rather than receiving your posts in my email. If possible then please add the widget wherein we can follow your blog regularly. It would be good and much easier. The first time I visited your site, I was a little lost and didn’t know how to follow. So i subscribed to your blog in ma mail. I would like to read more of your posts. Hope you would help…
Cheers…
You look good. Your hubby has excellant taste!
u look lovely in the sari and it surely suits you a lot, you had a great day !!
heres to many more !!!
I am sure that everyone has already told you so, but you do look amazing..
Despite all the inconvenience of wearing a saree, its my favorite way to pamper myself on festivals and special occasions. Keep posting more lovely photographs of celebrating Indian festivals with the family. There is a truckload of them on the way!
You definately carry that sari well. It is something very, very, very, very (how many verys am I allowed to add) few western women GET.. you obviously get it! You look so comfortable in it and that is just lovely! Pretty color and wise giftgiver
Happy Dassara to you and yours!
You aren’t western Sharell are you? I always thought you were from the furthest of east!
Happy Dussehra and Vijay Dashami to you!
I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog. It’s so refreshing
You look gorgeous and totally in sync with your surroundings.
Do you visit Australia often?
Didn’t know they conduct “ayudha pooja” outside of Karnataka. …… ignorant me.
Sharell, you have very wise and smart husband! You look great in your sari, I can’t wait till I’m thin enough to wear one. Your nephew is so cute he did get big from the last photo that you shared with us!
Looking at that cute baby, i just feel like asking this question:
When will “baby” Sharell come in this world?….i wanna be an uncle
whatever you have in your nose I think is in wrong side. Shouldn’t it be on your left side? BTW u look gorgious . God bless you and your family
Regarding the thing in my nose, lol, yes most people in India wear it in the left nostril. It depends on what part of India you come from though. However, I actually got the piercing done back home in Australia before I came to India (before I even knew my life was going to end up here!). Incidentally, my mother in law has her right nostril pierced as well, so maybe I unknowingly chose the correct side after all.
Ronny — maybe in 2011!!
2011? Isn’t that early?
Great blog! I’m an American-born Hindu Indian woman who’s engaged to an American-born Christian Jamaican man. I came across your blog while doing a search on Dussehra only b/c the place we want to get married has a date available and it happens to be Dussehra 2010. My issue: would it be a no-no to serve meat dishes (just chicken, fish..no beef) at the wedding? I don’t know who ask (my parents are not exactly thrilled by the arrangement.) Would love an insider opinion! (You look gorgeous by the way..the sari really suits you!)
Hi Miss P, congratulations on your impending wedding!
Your fiance does sound very exotic. 
I can just imagine your parents reaction though. I do hope they become more accepting in time. I’m guessing your family must be vegetarian Hindus? We had meat (fish and chicken…. no beef) at our wedding, but my in laws aren’t vegetarian. I don’t think serving meat should be a problem though (as long as there’s no beef!), because plenty of Indians do eat meat! Perhaps you could just make sure the meat is kept away from the vegetarian food. For example, if you have a buffet (which is what Indians love!), have separate meat and veg sections. Hope this helps! Some of my Indian readers might have some suggestions too…..
Sharell,u r lukin gorgeous in da saree!I luved ur husband’s choice!
Your hands luk empty,why dnt u wear sm bangles/gold kangan?It goes really well wid da saree!Ur nephew is really sweet!We also hav a puja on Dusshera in Bihar.Its called “vahan puja”,which is done in many odr parts of India as well.Whichever vehicle u drive is worshipped,sm tika & a garland r put on it.Sm ppl even cracka cocunut in front of it,before riding it dat day.
@ Miss P
Firstly congratulations 2 u & ur fiance!Sharell is right,if it is a buffet,u can keep a separate counter for fish & meet.Most ppl r fyn wid it,as long as it is not served in da same place wer veg food is served.
What a cute looking nephew you got there Sharell.
Oh yeah, I forget the bangles!! I feel so over dressed if I have jewellery on every body part, whereas Indian women think something is missing (and it looks empty) if they don’t. I’m still getting used to it!
You have become more Indian than many of us (who have turned into westerners). This is depicted very well in the Hindi film “Rang De Basanti” where a journalist from UK comes to India and finds that the Urban Youth was more westernized than that of the West. East meets West.
OMG!! PRABHADEVI???? Do u stay there??
My in-laws live there, in the phul gali (flower lane) behind Siddhivinyak (sorry, I’ve probably spelled this wrong!) temple. We live in Powai.
Woow! Thats great.. I live in Prabhadevi too..Ur husband mite know “Beach Towers”.. And I completed my schooling from CONVENT GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL(5-6 years back) in the very same Phul Gali
That area is now a lil inaccessible though due to the huge Siddhivinayak Wall 
But im glad to know u’ve been here 
Im now gonna keep my eyes wide open when i go to Siddhivinayak..just to see if ur around 
He doesn’t know Beach Towers unfortunately (is it one of the new ones?) but he said your school is right near to his building (well, his parent’s building — they live in Ankur Apartments). We always approach the street from the back side of the temple. I really like the area. I’ve spent hours looking out the window of my in-laws apartment at all the vendors on phul gali. It feels so calm and uplifting there.