JOIN USTime to bring out the heirlooms
Ugadi is a time to ring in the new but the old need not be forgotten.
The festival heralding the Hindu lunar new year is in fact all about preserving tradition and heritage. Stars in Sandalwood flaunt heirlooms — clothes and jewellery that have been handed down from generations — on occasions like these.
They share with Metrolife the attachment they have towards these heirlooms.
.jpg)
Samyukta Hornad, M G Sathya Rao and Sudha
Belawadi."/>
Samyukta Hornad, Actor
She believes that traditional clothes and jewellery carry with them a lot of warmth and memories.
“My mother, grandmother and I don’t discard our old saris. We are hoarders and have a rare collection of saris. In fact, we exchange saris with each other and that gives me a chance to wear some vintage pieces that we don’t get in the market anymore.”
“In this picture, I am wearing my mother’s Kanjeevaram sari that is over 20 years old. I got a new blouse custom-made for this; I don’t like neckpieces, so I collected copper wires and got it embroidered around the neckline of the blouse. My love for animals reflects in my clothes as well. So I have animals motifs like that of a peacock and birds designed on the sleeve. Both the sari and blouse are worn only on special occasions like Ugadi.”
Radhika Narayan, Actor
She says ancestral jewellery is symbolic of family sentiment and tradition.
“The diamond ring that I am wearing in this picture was actually a small diamond nose stud gifted by my grandfather Srinivas Rao to my mother; when it was given to me, I decided to convert it into a ring. I treasure this piece of jewellery because it reminds me of my grandfather. Diamond also happens to be my lucky stone so that makes it even more special.”
Mayuri Kyatari, Actor
She feels very special in her mother’s saris. “I am wearing my mother’s wedding sari which she wore for the ‘muhurta’. It’s a heavy Kanjeevaram sari with a big border. Saris of this make and design aren’t available today. My mother has an enviable collection that she has acquired over the years. She is a big movie buff so she has saris worn by heroines like Rekha and Kalpana. She would watch their movies and buy the very same sari they wore in those. I haven’t let her give away these rare pieces as I intend to wear them on special occasions.”
Shanvi Srivastava, Actor
She feels preserving traditional wear keeps memories alive.
“The bright red sari that I am wearing in this picture was gifted to my mother by my father. It’s more than 30 years old and I wear it for special occasions. I don’t use it very often because the fabric is very delicate but I always tell my mother that I would like to get a similar sari for my wedding.”
“Talking about legacy pieces that have been passed down over generations, I also have a bracelet given by my grandmother to my mother and now to me; it reminds me of the warmth and love my grandmother spread. Another piece of traditional jewellery that I treasure is a choker that my mother wore on her wedding day. I intend to wear it on my big day too.”