The brutal heat of late summer in Austin suddenly gave way to cool mornings. One such morning I contemplated about what to wear to the graduation party of my friend’s daughter. My friend, an artist, wanted us to wear white.
I opened my trunk of saris collected over a lifetime, and searched for something white. At the bottom was a gray-white sari with a gold and purple border. It’s a Gadwal – a unique and cherished Indian sari. I lifted it out and ran my fingers over its sturdy weave. The gold zari work was still bright, the threads taut in patterns of conical flowers and worship vases.
It is a family heirloom. A sari my mother cherished and wore to weddings and celebrations. She packed it in my luggage when I left home to study in America. She possessed a couple of identical Gadwals, one with a green border and the other purple. Purple wasn’t my favorite color. I stashed the sari along with older Indian garments I didn’t visit much.
Today I chose my mother’s Gadwal. It spoke to me quite like my mother does (in a way) from the beyond. The purple reminded me of the luscious Kala Jaumun, purple plums we ate in summer. The zari reminded me of the first light over the wide sandy beaches I visited as a child with my family. We watched the sun slowly weave its golden tapestry over the foamy waves.
A fine Indian sari is an embodiment of grace, beauty, worship, and artistry. Gadwals are some of the finest works of textile art from Andhra Pradesh, India. Distinctive and hand woven at one time, these saris mark the great fabric heritage of India. Generations of weavers and artisans created fabulous works of textile, continuing a timeless tradition, often in penury.
This Sunday evening I shall proudly wear my mother’s sari, freeing it from a long spell of imprisonment.
It’s my journey and my story.
We wear things so that we don’t forget.
My Mother’s Gadwal
To explore some beautiful saris, check https://www.utsavpedia.com/textiles/exquisiteness-of-gadwal-sarees/ and other websites.