Dashain (Dusshera) calls for red sarees to be worn by women in our family. Any other color is frowned upon. On Wednesday, I woke up at 6 and put on this red (actually orangish red) saree to help my mother-in-law with puja preparation for Astami. My father-in-law joked in all seriousness – “It finally feels like Dashain today.”

This orange-red cotton saree is one of many sarees that my mom bought for herself but ended up in my wedding trousseau.