Blouse-free saree challenge on Instagram catches users’ attention

Ahead of Diwali, aside from decorating your house and deciding on gifts, what you will wear is also going to be top on most of your agenda. If you are a saree lover, then one Instagram account has come up with an ingenious way to wear a saree without a blouse in many different ways.

In its ‘No Blouse’ challenge, the user Saree.Man wrote, “Welcome to The Saree Festival NO BLOUSE please challenge! Traditionally the saree has been worn without blouses and petticoats in the spirit of retaining the purity of the unstitched cloth. Shirk off the vestiges of colonialism and reclaim the no blouse saree look. Feel liberated… Post a picture in your favourite saree sans a blouse.. Be inventive, show us new ways!

“Dedicate this look to The Saree Festival Mumbai 2017, Sep 30 – Oct 01 and share the website link thesareefestival.com with the tags #sareefestival #noblouse #jaisaree and #mumbai. Challenge closes Sep 30…we will be giving away three cotton handlooms to teen Devi’s chosen via a lucky draw. Jai saree, boo blouse!”

The post has had considerably good response with women from around the country sending their ways of wearing saree without blouse.

Here are some of them.

My Sunday is made with this sighting! #Repost @vsood (@get_repost) ・・・ #challengeaccepted #sareetheoldway #blouseshmouse #walkingdownthestairs #bozemanmontana

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Oct 14, 2017 at 11:38pm PDT

Some more Devis. The Saree Festival NO BLOUSE please challenge created a wave of Satvik no blouse dressing. A big thank to you to everyone who participated. While we received acclaim and bouquets, we also received some brickbats! Some participants who posted on their handles and posted on some saree groups were ridiculed and censored. As we predicted the colonial mindset is deeply entrenched in our psyche! Saree man salutes all the lovely ladies who reclaimed the beauty and purity of the saree, defeating outdated moral ideas that suppress Indian culture and women! Thank you @thiviyahnathan @priyakadapashah @pikeywho @msppj @ammishatshah @sareesandstories @misotini @kiransawhney @stajo12 @plumptopretty @pleatsnpallu @sareeonmovement @sharanya_manivannan @oorja.revivestyle @urban_sari @dtanaya @surekhap @surisavitha @travelista_in_saree @smehta206 @atambrahmgirl for participating and spreading the idea in various ways. I hope I am not missing anyone here…? We are announcing the winners of the challenge today! Stay tuned… I would like to submit that this idea is not over but has just started so please keep posting your no blouse pictures with the tag #booblouse #jaisaree KEEP THEM COMING! #redearth #sareeman #saree #sari #lovesaree #design #textiles #sarees #sareenotsorry #cottoniscool #indianfashion #fashion #india #isupporthandloom #handloom #handwoven #iwearhandloom #weaving #weaves #incredibleindia #sareefestival

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Oct 14, 2017 at 12:27am PDT

The Saree Festival NO BLOUSE please challenge created a wave of Satvik no blouse dressing. A big thank to you to everyone who participated. While we received acclaim and bouquets, we also received some brickbats! Some participants who posted on their handles and posted on some saree groups were ridiculed and censored. As we predicted the colonial mindset is deeply entrenched in our psyche! Saree man salutes all the lovely ladies who reclaimed the beauty and purity of the saree, defeating outdated moral ideas that suppress Indian culture and women! Thank you @thiviyahnathan @priyakadapashah @pikeywho @msppj @ammishatshah @sareesandstories @misotini @kiransawhney @stajo12 @plumptopretty @pleatsnpallu @sareeonmovement @sharanya_manivannan @oorja.revivestyle @urban_sari @dtanaya @surekhap @surisavitha @travelista_in_saree @smehta206 @atambrahmgirl for participating and spreading the idea in various ways. I hope I am not missing anyone here…? We are announcing the winners of the challenge today! Stay tuned.. I would like to submit that this idea is not over but has just started so please keep posting your no blouse pictures with the tag #booblouse #jaisaree KEEP THEM COMING #redearth #sareeman #saree #sari #lovesaree #design #textiles #sarees #sareenotsorry #cottoniscool #indianfashion #fashion #india #isupporthandloom #handloom #handwoven #iwearhandloom #weaving #weaves #incredibleindia #sareefestival

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Oct 14, 2017 at 12:05am PDT

#Repost @surekhap (@get_repost) ・・・ Another handloom sari by @julie_indiastyle_gazing love the pallu details which are in contrast colours! iPhone camera has not captured the real colours of this sari but still I’m liking the overall feel! Wanted to upload this pic for the challenge by the @saree.man but due to some glitch couldn’t do it. Jai saree, boo blouse #sareefestival #noblouse #jaisaree #mumbai #pod #ootd #madeinindia #cotton #sari #sareelove #sustainable #ilovecotton #whatiwore #sarinotsorry #sareenotsorry #handwoven #handloom #handloomsaree #slowfashion #sustainablefashion #style #fashion #50plusfashion #50plusandfabulous #chicover50 #lovedressingup #8SareesInOctober @sareesandstories

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Oct 3, 2017 at 1:29am PDT

#Repost @pikeywho (@get_repost) ・・・ Hailing from Karnataka, I always wondered how these Halakki Vokkaliga tribe wore a saree without a blouse and petticoat. Only to learn later on blouse and petticoats were influence of other countries which our way and each and every one wore it without the blouse and petticoat. My little attempt in trying a completely traditional attire of Uttar Karnataka tribe who are descendants of Africa and wore it like a sarong with loads of bangles, beaded necklaces and huge nose pins. Seen here in an Ilkal saree with Karnataka kasuti work. #halakkivokkaliga #saree #sareedrape #sareedraping #sareelove #Sareeman #Sareefestival #noblouse

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Sep 27, 2017 at 12:54am PDT

#Repost @pikeywho (@get_repost) ・・・ When you have dreams of Cinderella and her Gowns. You don’t need a godmother, you need 2 sarees. When @saree.man puts up a challenge say boo to blouse. Here is my version, a green shiny silk saree draped on a cancan skirt just like a ball gown and a red georgette saree draped on the bust like a bandeau as a halter neck. Don’t I have a Royal touch without designers creating my gown? But weavers created lovely sarees. Inventing saree drape is the key to change. #Saree #sareelove #sareedraping #sareedrape #cancansaree #sareegown #Sareeman

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Sep 26, 2017 at 7:54am PDT

#Repost @kiransawhney (@get_repost) ・・・ Since time immemorial Goddesses have been depicted traditionally in six yards of unstitched fabric worn without blouses and petticoats. Traditionally saree was worn without the blouse in the spirit of retaining the purity and the free flowing energy of the unstitched fabric. It was a joy of being liberated from the vestiges of colonialism. I dedicate this look to the Saree festival Mumbai 2017, sep 30-oct 01. See the link www.thesareefestival.com #sareefestival #noblouse #jaisaree #mumbai here is to the no blouse challenge @saree.man

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Sep 28, 2017 at 10:46pm PDT

A post shared by Red Earth / 1100 Walks (@saree.man) on Sep 29, 2017 at 6:14am PDT