Tales of Sarees, the importance of feeling seen

By: Binisha Shrestha, Colorado Nepalese Community

Saree always has a special importance and glory among women in the Nepali community.

Nepali women have a special relationship with sarees, no matter how many western outfits they wear while adapting to a new country, a new place, they adore saree which has been a cherished wear from generation to generation.

Last month, Colorado Nepalese Community and Share Mission International, jointly organized the “Tales of Sarees” program at The People’s Building in Aurora.

The event was very well attended by Nepali community members as well as the non-Nepali community, where most of the attendees dressed in a saree. It was one colorful event!

A variety of sarees including Haku Patasi, Dhaka saree, silk saree, dupatta saree, georgette saree and cotton saree were exhibited at various stages of the program. 

The event was inaugurated by Ms. Shanti Shrestha, president of Sankhuwasabha Community of USA by lighting a panas. “Panas lighting has a special meaning in Nepalese culture. Lighting a lamp or flame before a ceremony holds cultural, religious and symbolic significance in various traditions around the world. 

It spreads divine grace also honoring a way to connect with our cultural roots and a thought to drive away negative energies and bring in positivity,” said Ms. Binisha Shrestha, Founder and CEO of Colorado Nepalese Community.

The event then proceeded with a poetry recital by Ms. Salina Amatya on “An Ode to Sarees.”

Dr. Purnima Voria, president of National US India Chamber of Commerce conducted a workshop on “An Art Of Saree Draping,” where most of the participants were non-Nepali community leaders including Rep. Eliza Hamrick, Ms. Danny Trigoso, Ms. Becky Hogan, Ms. Mimi Luong Ye, Ms. Minsoo Song, Ms. Patti Batteman, Ms. Christina Joymon, and Ms. Nga Vương Sandoval. After the workshop, participants presented a spectacular sari fashion walk on the ramp.

“I come from Nepal where we love our sarees,” said Binisha Shrestha. “A saree is an excessively long garment which women drape themselves in, and we have a saying in Nepal, which is nothing makes a woman look more beautiful than a saree does.”

The main highlight of the event was a Nepali version of ode to saree fashion walk, which gave a special presentation starting with 7-year-old Saara Shrestha in haku patasi. Others included Avani Maharjan in Gufa Saree, Aryana Amatya in Gunyu Cholo attire, and Sabisha Shrestha in Nepali bride. 

Prakriti Joshee walked in the first saree gifted to her from her mother after her marriage. Subhekshya Shrestha walked in her mother’s 30-year-old saree she wore to her work. Sumana Shrestha wore traditionally handwoven dhaka saree, and Sarina Shrestha wore a 50-year-old sari, hand embroidered by her maternal aunt. Pritina Shrestha, Salomi Maharjan, Merina Shrestha, Usha Adhikari wore party sarees for different occasions in Nepali celebrations.

The highlight of the event was when 84-year-old grandma Mina Paudel walked the ramp in Nepali Dopatta Saree. The entire audience cheered for her when she took off her oxygen tube and walked the ramp with such elegance. 

The fashion walk was choreographed by Sabita Shrestha and emceed by Ms. Sagarika Shrestha, who flew from New York to host the event. DJ Mani Maskey presented a special saree song “Ful butey saree”. 

While giving vote of thanks, Binisha Shrestha said, “Our community is not a monolith, each sub community while sharing commonalities in certain areas, has its own nuances, historical challenges and contemporary struggles.”

She continued: “Even within the South Asian American population, there are myriad languages, cultures, socioeconomic factors and religions to consider. We all have our own story to tell.”

 This Tales of Saree event was meant to further the path to accepting cultural identities and grow the tight-knit community we come from. 

One of the attendees mentioned, “ I’ve been in love with my mom’s wedding saree since I was a 7-year-old kid. It’s an elegant red and golden embroidered one. I remember eyeing it with fascination and hoping one day I would get to wear it. As a teenager. I often tried it on when my mom wasn’t home and rejoiced.”

According to Binisha Shrestha, representation doesn’t mean filling quotas or giving someone a few seconds of screen time to check a figurative box, it’s about pushing back against the stereotypes and giving people who’ve been left out of writing rooms and decision-making processes the space to their own stories. 

“For when we feel seen, we learn to own and share our stories. These stories remind us that there is no need to prove or minimize ourselves for others’ comfort. That we deserve to show up as we are. And ultimately, that we matter,” said Binisha Shrestha.