My 15th saree in the ‪#‎100sareepact‬ falls on the 15th of April. How’s that for coincidence?

Today’s was a Patola that was part of my trousseau. My husband, who came along with us to do the shopping-unlike most men, this guy likes to saree shop-insisted that I get a Patola in the collection. He’s a big fan of the Ikkat weave and batik technique, thanks to his long stint in Indonesia. “What’s shaadi shopping without a Patola?” he said. Later, he told me that he was looking online for one but couldn’t, only to find it at Sundari Silks! The striking orange and gold with a paisley pallu did it for me.

I wore this one last 5 years ago, on the day when the thaali is changed from the thread to a gold chain, a ritual practiced in Tamil weddings, usually after a month (or is it 3?). In my case we didn’t wait so long and had it done on the third day, in Kurukshetra, where the in-laws lived then and where the ‘South Indian’ bride is an exotic thing!

It happens to be anniversary week, so I thought it’s time to wake up the sleeping trousseau; wore it to a hearty Vishu lunch at Ranjini’s today.

I’m told Patola means ‘a girl with a good figure’ in Punjabi and there are two movies: one called Patola (1987) and the other called Proper Patola (2014).

I think I’m beginning to see why my Punjabi husband has a keen interest in Patola sarees! It certainly goes beyond the weft and warp! Or should I just leave it to coincidence?