"Work" saree...

My coworkers informed me that a "work" saree is not a saree that you wear to work - it is a saree that has "work" on it, such as the beaded and sequined work on mine... They looked at my blog on Saturday when I was not here (I take Saturdays off for Shabbat; they take off only Sundays) and had a good laugh at my incorrect description.

Traditionally it seems that bindis were worn by married women, when they had their first child, maybe, and not unmarried women or widows... But most Hindu women I know wear bindis, and love when I wear one. When I first wore a bindi to work I got so many compliments, and sometimes when I am out in public with work wearing one strangers will compliment me on how beautiful I look in a bindi, and if I'm in full Indian attire, will sometimes even ask if I am Indian. I have never seen the Christian of Muslim women I know wear bindis, but have been told there are some Christian congregations or sects that wear bindis (Catholic for example, so I've been told). Sooo... bindis seem to be cosmetic, but also religious... my verdict on this one is inconclusive.

There is also Sindhur, which is the red line of colored powder in the part of a woman's hair. I have been told this is to keep a woman's sexual energy on her husband only. This happens more in the North; when I was in Lucknow I realized almost every woman had a bright red streak in her part, whereas in the South I see it much less.

Another way you can guess that a woman is married is if she wears toe rings. Not all women who are married wear toe rings - some just don't; others, such as certain Christian sects, don't wear any ornaments, including earrings, toe rings, or bindis. Similarly, not all women who wear toe rings are married - in Kerala, for example, toe rings are worn as fashion, by girls and married women alike; and one of my coworkers wears a toe ring for fashion (which warrants strange looks since she's not married).

And let's not forget Henna, or Mendhi as they call it in my area. Mendhi can be fun for decoration for no reason, or for use before weddings or other festivals. I believe it has no religious use and have seen Muslims and Hindus wear it, as well as Jews (me and Shlayma got henna together in January, and when Leah was here she put henna on me, Lily and herself. But hey, if you were thinking, 'oh, she tricked me, I thought she was implying there were Jews in India, how silly!' - Just you wait for my Mumbai post! (coming shortly))


My coworker Aparna's mendhi-decorated hands holding chana (chickpeas) during a workshop exercise

Shlayma and me getting Mendhi applied

But don't take my word for it... (because it wouldn't be the first time that I've been wrong)

I'll see you next time.