#Regional sarees

[samkkshopping]

Sridevi Vijaykumar: Turquoise Dream in Samyakk Organza

Introduction

In the realm of haute couture, certain creations possess the uncanny ability to transcend mere fashion, evolving into exquisite works of art that capture the essence of beauty, grace, and sophistication. Recently, the spotlight shone brightly on the resplendent @SrideviVijaykumar as she graced the scene adorned in the enchanting Turquoise Blue Sequins Embroidered Organza Saree crafted by the esteemed artisans at Samyakk.com. Let's embark on a journey to unravel the m yriad intricacies that rendered this ensemble nothing short of sublime, and why Sridevi Vijaykumar emerged as the epitome of elegance and poise.

Organza: The Epitome of Sheer Elegance:

At the heart of Sridevi Vijaykumar’s mesmerizing ensemble lies the timeless allure of organza — a fabric renowned for its delicate translucence and ethereal drape. Woven from fine silk yarns, organza embodies a sense of understated luxury, its sheer texture lending a subtle yet enchanting quality to any garment it graces. As Sridevi Vijaykumar donned the Turquoise Blue Organza Saree, she effortlessly epitomized the essence of sheer elegance, exuding a timeless beauty that is both captivating and unforgettable.

A Symphony of Color:

Sridevi Vijaykumar looks absolutely enchanting draped in her Turquoise Blue organza saree, showcasing a quintessential Sridevi saree look. The serene hue reminiscent of azure skies and tranquil waters exudes calm sophistication, perfectly complementing her elegance. This choice not only accentuates her beauty but also reflects her refined taste and timeless style. With her impeccable saree ensemble, Sridevi epitomizes grace and sets a high standard for discerning fashion connoisseurs, creating an iconic Sridevi saree moment.

Masterful Artistry in Embellishments:

In the realm of elegance, the Sridevi Vijaykumar saree stands out with its turquoise grandeur. The unparalleled craftsmanship manifested in its intricate embellishments. Delicately woven Sequins, Cutdana, and Zardosi work adorn the fabric, bestowing upon it an ethereal quality that is simply mesmerizing. Each meticulously placed embellishment serves as a testament to the artisan’s skill and dedication, resulting in a symphony of textures and patterns that dance in harmony with every movement, creating an enchanting visual spectacle.

Exquisite Border and Pallu Embellishments:

The border and pallu of the saree stand as veritable masterpieces in their own right, showcasing a symphony of craftsmanship that is both opulent and refined. Embellished with Pearl, Cutdana, Zardosi, Resham, and Sequins work, the gold-colored border exudes an aura of regal splendor, adding a touch of grandeur to the ensemble. This ornate detailing not only enhances the visual appeal of the saree but also elevates it to a realm of unparalleled sophistication and luxury.

The Velvet Blouse: A Study in Elegance:

Complementing the resplendent saree is a Velvet Blouse in the same captivating Turquoise Blue hue. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the blouse features intricate Cutdana, Zardosi, Resham, and Sequins work that mirrors the embellishments found on the saree. The luxurious velvet fabric adds a sumptuous texture to the ensemble, creating a seamless fusion of elegance and opulence that is truly captivating.

Elegance Personified:

Sridevi Vijaykumar’s appearance in this stunning ensemble left an indelible impression, showcasing the quintessential Sridevi looks in a saree. Each graceful gesture breathed life into the fabric, weaving an enchanting narrative of elegance and sophistication. With her innate charm and impeccable style, Sridevi Vijaykumar elevated the saree to new heights, underscoring the essence of true beauty — wherein one’s demeanor and grace transcend mere attire. In this defining moment, she epitomized timeless elegance, redefining conventional notions and leaving a lasting legacy in the realm of fashion.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What makes the Turquoise Blue Sequins Embroidered Organza Saree from Samyakk unique? A: This saree stands out for its impeccable craftsmanship, captivating color palette, and timeless allure. It epitomizes the brand’s commitment to excellence and serves as a testament to the enduring power of sartorial artistry.

What fabric is used in the creation of the saree? A:The saree is crafted from organza, a delicate fabric woven from fine silk yarns. Known for its sheer translucence and ethereal drape, organza lends a sense of understated luxury to the ensemble.

Can you describe the embellishments on the saree? A: The saree features intricately woven Sequins, Cutdana, and Zardosi work, which bestow upon it an ethereal quality that is simply mesmerizing. Additionally, the border and pallu are adorned with Pearl, Cutdana, Zardosi, Resham, and Sequins work, adding a touch of opulence to the ensemble.

How does Sridevi Vijaykumar’s choice of the saree reflect her style? A: Sridevi Vijaykumar’s choice epitomizes elegance and grace, showcasing a quintessential Sridevi saree look. With her innate charm and impeccable style, she elevates the saree to new heights, underscoring the essence of true beauty.

Does Samyakk offer other varieties of sarees? A: Yes, Samyakk has a wide variety of sarees in enticing hues, embroidery, and fabrics. From traditional Kanchipuram silk sarees to modern organza designer sarees and intricately embroidered pieces, their collection caters to every taste and occasion.

Does Samyakk offer international shipping? A: Yes, Samyakk provides international shipping services to customers worldwide. Whether you’re located in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, or any other part of the globe, you can enjoy the convenience of having your desired saree or other garments delivered to your doorstep. Samyakk ensures a seamless shipping process, allowing customers from around the world to access their exquisite collection of sarees and other ethnic wear.

Conclusion: A Timeless Masterpiece:

In the rich tapestry of fashion, Samyakk.com shines as a bastion of diversity, offering a plethora of sarees in enticing hues, exquisite embroidery, and luxurious fabrics. From the traditional opulence of Kanchipuram silk sarees to the regal charm of Banarasi sarees, Samyakk’s collection spans the spectrum of timeless elegance. Moreover, their modern offerings, including organza designer sarees and intricately embroidery sarees, redefine contemporary fashion with flair. Sridevi Vijaykumar’s choice of the Turquoise Blue Sequins Embroidered Organza Saree from Samyakk epitomizes the brand’s commitment to excellence. With its impeccable craftsmanship, captivating color palette, and enduring allure, this ensemble stands as a testament to the enduring power of sartorial artistry. As Sridevi Vijaykumar graced the scene in this resplendent saree, she not only epitomized elegance and grace but also left an indelible mark on the annals of fashion history, serving as an eternal source of inspiration for generations to come.

Also Check Out:

Sakshi Agarwal Looks In Saree

Athulya Ravi Looks in Saree

Riya Suman in Saree

Kavya Gowda in Saree

[shopfashionly1]

Discover 26 Stunning Saree Styles from Across India

India's rich heritage and diverse culture are beautifully reflected in its iconic saree styles. At ShopFashionly, we’ve compiled an exciting blog to guide you through 26 stunning saree styles from across India, celebrating the craftsmanship and traditions behind each masterpiece.

From the luxurious Banarasi silk of Uttar Pradesh to the vibrant Bandhani of Gujarat and the elegant Kanjeevaram silk of Tamil Nadu, every saree tells a unique story. These exquisite drapes not only represent the cultural essence of their region but also make a statement of timeless elegance and grace.

Our blog dives into:

Classic and Regional Saree Styles like Chanderi, Patola, and Kasavu

Styling Tips for various occasions – be it weddings, festivals, or formal events

Draping Techniques to make your saree look modern yet traditional

Fun Facts about the history and significance of these sarees

Why You’ll Love This Blog:

If you’re a saree enthusiast or someone exploring Indian ethnic wear for the first time, this blog is your ultimate guide. Whether you're looking for an opulent ensemble for a wedding or a breezy drape for a casual outing, our guide has something for everyone.

Explore this treasure trove of saree styles and get inspired to add a touch of India's heritage to your wardrobe.

Read the Full Blog Here: Explore 26 Stunning Saree Styles from Across India

Let us know your favorite saree style in the comments and how you’d love to style it!

[jimmysrinet]

How to Use Pinterest for Business: 9 Top Profitable Products for Indian Business Owners

As an Indian business owner, you might be wondering what you can sell on Pinterest to grow your business. Pinterest is a popular social media platform with over 250 million monthly active users, making it an excellent tool for reaching new audiences and showcasing your products. Here are some ideas for what you can sell on Pinterest as an Indian business owner Product1- Pinterest traditional…

[gguk-n]

Hi could please write one where the reader is bengali and celebrates Durga Puja with Lando in india ( ollie or kimi works too but I'm not sure if you write for them)?

I did a ‘spin the wheel’ and got Ollie.

Puja Vibes

Ollie was as white as white gets and his girlfriend was the embodiment of the Bengali culture prancing around. She had helped Oliver expand his horizon; taught him new experiences and delicious food. She will argue, that there’s no dessert like Bengali dessert.

So, when it was time for Y/N to return home for Durga Puja, Ollie would be joining her too since he had no races or prior commitments.

They hadn’t dated for long but Ollie had showered her with gifts on Christmas and taught her all his family traditions. Y/N just wanted to do the same for him.

At the airport, they landed together with Ollie in tow who was enamoured by the hustle and bustle of the city. He saw cows crossing the road like it was another Tuesday and no one batted an eye. Y/N pointed out all the building explaining the significance and the reason behind their construction during the colonial era on the way to her home.

At home, preparations for Durga Puja were in full swing. Y/N’s uncle and aunt had decorated their house ornately. Oliver greeted everyone.

The festivities would start the next day. Everyone was up bright and early for the invocation (bodhon) Oliver was mesmerised by the shining lights and the bright colours and the beautiful way Goddess Durga was dressed.

The main event was Maha Ashtami which Y/N’s father had great pleasure in explaining to Oliver. Oliver was like a kid in a candy store; eyes wide open and mesmerised by the events unfolding in front of him.

You would find the poor boy following Y/N around like a lost puppy. It was adorable watching him hold onto her saree palo as she walked in front of him. “Lemme hold your hand” Ollie whined. “Everyone is here for the festival. What will the elder’s think?” Y/N reasoned. In Indian culture, blatant show of affection was frowned upon especially in the older generations, the younger ones couldn’t care less. That’s why Ollie was walking around holding her palo.

They were stood next to each other while Y/N’s mother made the preparations for Maha Ashtami. “Your dress looks so beautiful. Red truly is your colour” Ollie said. “Thank you babe” she said. “How did you do this?” He asked playing with the folds. “My mum helped. I’m still pretty bad at tying a saree” she said. “Is that what it’s called? A saree” he said enunciating each word. “Yup, it’s an Indian traditional wear but everyone wraps the cloth around them differently, depending on the region of the country” she explained. His mouth formed an O in understanding.

They finished up the celebration with all the rituals being done and Oliver asking way too many questions each step of the way.

On the last day after Vijaya Dashami, after the immersion in the water everyone returned back home, exhausted by the events of the past days when Y/N’s cousin showed her a video; actually a few.

One video, had Ollie following her around like a lost puppy. The other one was of him holding her palo so as to not get lost. And the last one was straight out of a Shah Rukh Khan movie where Ollie’s watch had gotten stuck in her palo and he tried to free himself while actively trying to follow her and not let her know that he might fray her outfit. Eventually, he did free himself but his eyes never left her as he walked behind her.

She showed the video to Ollie and the Shah Rukh Khan scene from Om Shanti Om. Ollie was seen laughing, “didn’t know I would be getting my Bollywood moment this year during Puja” she said. “I’m happy I could be of service, m’lady” he said tipping his imaginary hat. “I would still have loved if it was Shah Rukh Khan” she teased. “Wow! I can’t believe this.” He acted hurt with his hand on his chest. “You are unbelievable.” She muttered pressing her lips on his cheeks. “Don’t try to bribe me with kisses” he huffed. “I’m not. I love you my cute little bear” she cooed. “I’m not cute” he huffed again. “Sure, my rasgulla” she laughed pinching his cheeks. “I like that dessert. Can I have some more?” He replied lost in thought. “I’m sure my mother will find great pleasure in feeding you” she said laughing. “Let’s go” she said pulling him along. “I love you Y/N.” Ollie called out while being dragged along. “I love you too” she replied turning to look at him.

Y/N’s family cooed at them, young love

Hope you liked it! I tried my best

[athena5898]

Despite the heavy rains, millions of Yemenis came out today in a show of defiance to America and the zionist entity across multiple governorates.

There, Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Saree announced (https://t.me/PalestineResist/69596) the targeting of the "Nevatim" Air Base in occupied Palestine using a Palestine-2 hypersonic missile (https://t.me/PalestineResist/57653).

The march was held under the title "With Gaza and Lebanon…The blood of the martyrs forges victory," where marchers honored the martyrs and the resistance across the region. "We are at your service, O Hezbollah! We are at your service, O Hamas!"

The march statement praised the resistance and condemned the zionists. They praised God for continuous victories, the latest of which was forcing the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to flee (https://t.me/PalestineResist/69052) after it was targeted. They condemned the American veto (https://t.me/PalestineResist/69308) against a ceasefire in the UN.

The affirmed the continuation of resistance, stating that jihad is the only defensive option. They called on all peoples of the world to boycott zionist and American products.

[manikas-whims]

Happy Diwali 🎇 and thanks for all the nice headcanons about lads

can i please please request some Diwali headcanons with lads boys pretty plase 🥹 lov u

Happy Diwali to you too anon 🥰

tho i’m kinda busy at home, i’ll write a few HCs for you ♡

Celebrating Diwali with LADS Men

some love and deepspace x Desi! Reader headcanons

Cleaning and Decorations with Xavier

-> Cleaning up the house during Diwali signifies letting go of the old (past) and bringing in/welcoming the new. Whereas decorative lights represent the triumph of light over darkness; victory of good over evil.

You tell Xavier about this desi tradition and the next morning he's at your door at 7 am sharp with all the cleaning supplies. He helps you clean up, declutter and even get rid of certain things you don't need anymore but keep hoarding for no reason 😭

Xavier will also love joining you in crafting lanterns, as well as buying decorative items because he gets to spend more time with you 🥺. He'll help you hang the decorative pieces at all the high places, and definitely enjoy setting up all the lights ✨. IT'S HIS FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS FESTIVAL. He'll help place the diyas (🪔) all over the house.

Shopping with Sylus

-> Shopping for new items such as furnishings and such is a way to bring in the new things into your lives. It's also believed that buying gold or silver during Diwali is auspicious and brings in wealth and prosperity to a family.

Sylus learns about this custom and the next day, he's outside your apartment with his sportscar, inviting you to a shopping date with him. Will definitely spoil you and buy loads of gold and silver jewellery for you cause he can 😌

Will also buy you furnishings way too lavish for your liking, saying shit like “the couch in your living room is too shabby, sweetie.” May or may not ask Luke and Keiran to help replace and redecorate all the furniture in your house 😭

Making candles and sweet dishes with Zayne

-> Many people buy but many others also make their own candles and diyas (🪔) at home to decorate the house. We also make sweet dishes which vary accordingly with every region of India.

Zayne is a calm and patient person. So who better to invite for making candles and sweets than him? He'll be a very patient learner. He'll love this activity so much, mostly cause he'll get to see your cute, annoyed expressions. And his candles will definitely look better than your crooked ones 😭

ZAYNE LOVES SWEETS! He'll be kinda excited to try the Desi delicacies. He'd probably enjoy Gulab Jamun the most! And Rasmalai 😋. He may not like kaju katli or soan papri as much but he'll appreciate them all the same. Oh and he will surely like boondi ke laddu.

Rangoli and Mehendi with Rafayel

-> We make Rangolis during Diwali to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. It is believed that deities like houses with beautiful rangoli. Rangolis also represent the people’s joy as well as the triumph of good over evil. Whereas Mehendi (or henna art) is a tradition mostly performed by women. We love covering our hands in beautiful henna art 😍

Rafayel is an artist so of course he's gonna be most excited to indulge in the Rangoli making. His designs are gonna be the prettier than yours. He doesn't even bother looking up the simple rangoli designs on the internet. He'll directly create his own authentic and complex designs all over your house.

And he'd love Mehendi (henna art). He'd quickly learn the process of making mehendi at home. And then he'll get down to making beautiful patterns on your hands. Will definitely add lots of water symbolic designs as well as hide his name in the design 🤭 (eh-hem hiding each-other’s names in mehendi art is a hindu wedding tradition for bride and groom)

Miscellaneous HCs

♡ All of them will sincerely sit throughout the praying session. They'll help perform all the rituals.

♡ All of them will gawk at you in your pretty lehengas and sarees and kurtis and other traditional outfits you choose to wear 😊. They'll shower you with loads of compliments. Will definitely try out desi outfits for men if you ask them.

♡ They'll love trying out all the desi dishes you prepared.

♡ Xavier and Zayne will enjoy all the card games and will definitely keep beating your ass 😭

♡ They'll say no to fire crackers cause they cause pollution. Celebrate a Green Diwali y'all 😊🫶

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY DIWALI 🪔

» MASTERLIST «

[chokisnumber1fan]

kriti; an ode to devotion

dr. ratio x fem!reader, in which ratio finds himself absolutely smitten for a musician from earth.

content/warnings: 1.4k words, reader is very very feminine, referred to with she/her, reader is also indian and a maestro at indian classical music, i made this purely as a self-indulgent self-insert piece, religious imagery/writing, good ol’ potential ooc dr. ratio warning, he does not know ANYTHING about indian classical music or hindu culture, a few sanskrit terms used

author’s note: aaaah i can’t stop thinking about how dr. ratio would absolutely just fall in love with people passionate for their lines of work. i know this is pretty much just a self insert of my own but the thought of ratio with an s/o devoted to music or dance is so... <3

ratio feels like he’s sighed for the millionth time today. “didn’t you find someone else to do your bidding, gambler?” his question is met with a resounding and joyful nope! from aventurine, who drags him into the crowded theatre. “i had two tickets for this show because my friend was very kind. but no one else could make it on such short notice,” the blonde says, the smile never leaving his face. “so, i’m glad you came with me, doctor. ah! two empty seats! lucky us, eh?”

“whatever.”

ratio can’t say he’s the biggest fan of music— he dabbles in it from time to time, but nothing too much. it it weren’t for the gambler’s insistence, he would currently have been home and indulging in a relaxing bath; but alas, aventurine always gets what he wants. “i’m surprised you even have friends with a personality as repulsive as yours.”

“that hurt, you know,” aventurine says, clutching at his chest and forcing a pained expression onto his face. “do you really think i’m that bad?”

“no, i just think you are an idiot. or that the friends you have are equally as repulsive as you.”

the chatter around him turns into static white noise and he stares emptily at the blank stage, numbers and letters going left and right and center in his brain. the frustrating proof that the doctor had been trying to work on for weeks now is making a resurgence in his head. well, on second thought, maybe it’s not so bad that he got dragged out… perhaps, the doctor could make use of this opportunity to unplug and relax a bit. maybe the gambler isn’t so much of an idiot after all (aventurine knows, but he won’t let up).

ratio is snapped out of his daze as the curtains draw to a close, the stage now hidden behind them. a good portion of the crowd silences, in anticipation of the performance that was about to begin any second now. he heaves a sigh when the curtains reopen, a subconsciously bated breath being released.

in the middle of the stage sits a woman wearing a rich blue… robe? stole? no, it’s probably a saree, he surmises. “that’s her!” aventurine says excitedly with a gasp. “do you see her, doctor?” the soft light falling on the woman seems to reflect off of her in a subtle shine. almost like an ethereal goddess... “yes, i do, aventurine, i am not blind. i’m actually surprised you have friends from earth, of all planets.”

and ratio truly was genuinely surprised— not because he truly believed that aventurine’s personality would be an obstacle between him and his friendships, but because as far as he knew, earth was one of those tiny planets in a remote arm of the milky way galaxy. the people of earth tended to have their own cultures and gods that they worshipped instead of the aeons, and all of this differed widely between major regions on the planet. the… earthlings? well, in any case, they rarely ever travelled outside of their home planet— the maximum they usually ever went was within their planetary system. maybe they’re finally beginning to get out of their comfort zone? no one knows for sure.

the chatter of the crowd gradually dies down as three others assemble next to the woman with their instruments. she takes a sip from the bottle that lay next to her, and ratio notices the slight motion she makes with her hand. he assumes this was to get the show going, because the instrumentalists began playing their parts. they start with a monotonous and constant drone, after which the other stringed instrumentalist joins along with the harmonium player— and finally, you. ratio finds his interest piqued— he does not know much about earth and its customs and cultures.

you take a breath and you start singing. you start off slow and mellow, but ratio can feel the intensity and tempo of the performance gradually increasing— and with it, the intricacies of phrases that you’re singing. he finds it infuriatingly captivating, the way you jump through the chromatic scale with ease, like a deer prancing about in the forest. he wonders if you speak in melody.

ratio swears it’s the most masterful thing he’s ever listened to. he’s never listened to this kind of music ever in his life before, he knows nothing. it’s not as big as a choir or orchestra— and yet, he finds it amazing, the ease with which you conduct everyone with a flick of your hand. no… it’s not conducting. it seemed too unauthoritative to be. honestly, he has a lot of questions but for now he lets himself think of it simply for what it probably was— a well coordinated performance (and he would not be wrong to think of it that way either).

the skillful gliding of your voice has ratio enamoured. he finds it impressive, how easily you seem to be gliding over three octaves of notes without breaking out into as much as a sweat. he can only imagine the years and years of practice that must have gone into gaining such mastery— you make it look as easy as breathing. he would be lying if he said he didn’t find it attractive to some degree at the very least.

it takes him completely by surprise when you look in his direction and shoot your biggest most saccharine smile ever. and then he remembers about your supposed friendship with the man next to him and realises that it wasn’t for him. the gambler wasn’t lying, eh? who was ratio kidding, you didn’t even know him.

but he’s starting to become far gone. ratio isn’t a sapiosexual or whatever, by any means, even if he comes off as such. he knows that people think he would only be willing to date someone who has more phds than he does, but that’s not true at all. ratio believes that one must be passionate about anything that they choose to do. ultimately, that’s really what gets him hooked. he’s absolutely taking delight in looking at the fruits of your years of devotion to your art. and you, your performance is so enchanting it almost hurts. he feels like a dazed sailor drawn to a siren.

heh, it wouldn’t be so bad if the siren was you, he thinks, but immediately cringes at the thought afterward, discarding it into some corner of his brain he hopes to never see again.

oh, aventurine isn’t blind to any of this. he looks at the doctor’s eyes glued onto the stage with hyperfocus, and laughs. he doesn’t miss the way his grip on the armrests grow tighter and tighter, the flexing and tensing of his muscles obvious. who would’ve thought that his musician friend from earth of all people would’ve had the doctor whipped? he supposes it wasn’t a bad decision to bring ratio along, after all.

the audience bursts into thunderous clapping once you hit the end of your performance. ratio almost thought there was going to be no end to it— not that he’d complain though, it would’ve given him more time to study your performance, your art, more time to study you. “that was… that was a splendid performance. i wasn’t expecting to find myself hooked onto a musical of all things, seems like you aren’t completely bad, gambler.” ratio is completely candid with his compliment.

“oh, i know how much you enjoyed this,” aventurine says rather suggestively, catching the doctor off-guard. “hey, i’m going into the backstage to meet her— would you like to tag along?”

ratio is elated at the offer. of course he’d want to meet you, he’s got so many questions and— “sure…” his expression remains as stoic as ever. he’s always been able to count on himself but now? he hopes his deadpan image isn’t betrayed by his feelings, and he finds it so impossibly difficult to fight back the smile that’s slowly creeping onto his features as he watches you and aventurine converse like you were best friends reunited.

“this is my friend, doctor ratio!”

“oh, so you’re the doctor that everyone talks about! nice to meet you, i’m _____.”

you knew him already? well, it’s no big deal, you must have heard about him from aventurine. fuck, you look so much more heavenly up close. you’re like the manifestation of a goddess, with the way you seem to literally radiate a glow and everything. shit, if he didn’t know any better, he’d think you were an emanator of beauty, or an incarnation of devi saraswati (he hopes he isn’t thinking of the wrong goddess with his limited knowledge of hindu culture).

“likewise. just veritas is fine, too. that was an absolutely phenomenal performance, back then.”

veritas doesn’t know the first thing about the gods you sung the praises of during your performance, but he does think that your devotion to the art must be unmatched. he feels like you are a personification of the heavens, and he’s blind to everything that isn’t your divine beauty. there’s something so ancient about your art, and you’re almost like an envoy of the gods— aeons, you’re slowly getting him wrapped around your damn finger, and he doesn’t think he’s going to do anything to stop it.

“thank you, veritas,” you smile at him, and he feels a slight warmth. “i’ll be performing again at the grand theatre soon. you’ll be there, right?”

[pseudoquiddity]

Here's my little piece on (P1) Utopianism and orientalism/Utopian co-opting of (other) cultures (and some broadly Asian fun facts):

What's always struck me is the undercurrent of Asian aesthetic influence in P1 and one obvious reason for why it's there at all is the fact that they're bordering Mongolia and China. Many Eurasian nomads are artistically influenced by regional, cultural styles in the middle east, India, China, etc. that central and southern Asian area. But since the Kin's artistic aesthetic (in P1) reflect a utilitarianism use of leather and, broadly speaking, the Earth, where this influence appears most is with the Utopians.

Take Eva Yan, for example! I've only heard her clothes described as "strange," but the style is very reminiscent of a certain kind of dress ...

She's wearing something close to an Indian petticoat and blouse, but she's missing the saree. It might actually be what's around her neck. Indian blouses typically end above the stomach and are either long-sleeved (like what Eva's wearing) or go to the elbows. It even looks like the material might be the same, which would be silk. It seems to me that Eva Yan is doing in P1 what she's doing in P2; she's taking all of her favorite parts of a certain culture's dress and outfitting it to her tastes. Indian clothes are designed to be breathable, but Eva uses that design to look alluring. I would say that the Stamatins do the same thing in their own way; The Broken Heart's interior design and opium pipes evoke the Western-exported idea of Asian drug dens and they name their dead colleague Farkhad, based off the Persian story of Khosrow and Shirin, whether he was Persian, in the area or not - we wouldn't know.

Maria(and Eva?)'s occasional use of the honorific en-Daniil is reflective of this, too. "en" is short for "encik" and is a Malaysian convention. The reason why it's "en-Daniil" and not "en-Dankovsky" is because Malaysian names are structured like "Razak bin Osman," where the "bin" means "son of." It would be odd to call someone "Mister son of Osman," so it's either "en-Razak" or "en-Razak bin Osman."

Off the top of my head, those are the most explicit examples ... and, obviously, the Utopians all use the Kin's culture and aesthetics, too, and incorporate whatever about it interests them into their lifestyles. That aside (or not), as for why the Utopians specifically do this --- it may really be because they live in Asia. Personally, I interpret this as a very individualistic case of orientalism that expresses how Utopians seek out aesthetic beauty and concepts they find both appealing and "other" --- whether this is natural-law-breaking ideas or other cultures. I think this is a very cherry-picked kind of admiration.

[mariacallous]

Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a Greek-flagged ship headed to Yemen to deliver grain on Monday, causing minor damage, according to U.S. Central Command.

Despite the minor damage on the U.S.-owned M/V Sea Champion, the ship continued on course to Aden in Yemen, where it ultimately delivered the grain for the benefit of the Yemeni people.

Central Command said the M/V Sea Champion has delivered humanitarian aid to the country 11 times over the past five years.

"Houthi aggression in the region has exacerbated already high levels of need in conflict-impacted Yemen, which remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with nearly 80 percent of the entire population needing humanitarian assistance," Central Command said. "We are committed to countering the Houthis’ malign activities, which directly endanger the imports of foodstuff and humanitarian aid to Yemen."

Another ship in the Gulf of Aden, the British-registered, Lebanese-operated Rubymar, sustained damage on Sunday after "an explosion in close proximity to the vessel."

The explosion was reportedly caused by two missiles fired at the ship by Houthi rebels and resulted in the ship taking on water.

The crew was able to evacuate the vessel safely.

Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree later issued a statement claiming the rebel group’s responsibility for the attack, saying the vessel was "now at risk of potentially sinking." 

"The ship suffered catastrophic damages and came to a complete halt," Saree said. 

The Houthis also claimed to have downed an American drone Monday in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, according to Reuters. U.S. Central Command, which operates in the region, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

The Houthis last November took out a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone near the Yemeni coast. 

The reported attacks come after the U.S. launched five "self-defense" airstrikes against a series of Houthi rebel positions in Yemen on Saturday. 

The strikes targeted three anti-ship missile batteries, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) and another unmanned surface vessel (USV), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Sunday. 

"This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began on Oct. 23," CENTCOM said in a statement. 

[room-surprise]

I understand if this is outside your field of expertise, but do you think if the ornamentation of the clothing that (some of) the kobolds drawn by Kui wear is inspired by anything?

Actually this is exactly my field of expertise! I studied costume design for about two years in university before switching to something else :) So clothing is something I love looking at and talking about, and fashion history is one of my favorite elements of history in general!

HOWEVER, though I have some experience with subject, I'm not a fully trained expert in the field, and I know that I may not have all the answers, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. This is only my educated guess.

I'm assuming that you're talking about this page from the Daydream Hour book:

To start with, the caption says: "Kobolds that appear in foreign games and fantasy often have a reptilian appearance, but we chose an appearance that is more familiar in Japan." This doesn't tell us anything about their clothing, but I wanted to translate it to make sure it didn't say anything about their culture.

(You can read more about why the Dungeon Meshi kobolds are dogs in the Half-foot chapter of my Dungeon Meshi research project)

Kobolds likely live all over the world, but their large population centers are all located in the Western Continent, so that is probably the region they consider home.

So those two kobolds on the bottom left of the chart, who appear to be wearing European-inspired clothing, are probably living somewhere in the Eastern hemisphere, where Northern/Western/Central/Eastern European clothing is the norm, while the rest are likely from the West. So we can discard the European-looking clothes, since that's probably not a part of the kobold's traditional culture.

We have very limited information about the Western Continent, but these images plus what we know about Kabru (His name and Utaya's name are both South Asian, the dessert that comes from Utaya is South Asian) and the elves (several of them have South Asian names, some elves wear South Asian clothing and bindis) makes me think there's probably a strong Indian/South Asian influence in the Western Continent. It's a large land mass, so I don't think it's all South Asian, but South Asian culture is the only thing we have conclusive evidence of so far.

The majority of the kobolds are wearing brightly colored tunics with patterns on the hems, or what seems to be dresses/tunics made of draped fabric, also with hem decoration.

It IS worth noting that Kui avoids drawing elaborate patterns, even when it would make sense for her to do so. She does it only a couple of times in the manga and uses screentones instead whenever possible. So the simple hem decoration and single color fabric may just be an artistic choice that doesn't mean anything other than "I didn't want to draw a pattern." However, it's all we have to work with, so I'm going to assume it's intentional.

The repeated over-the-shoulder draped fabric the kobolds are wearing seems like it could only be a Greco-Roman style toga, palla, or cloak, or a South Asian saree. We have seen Western elves wearing garments similar to all of these on occasion, though obviously Kui has made some changes. As I say in my essay, I don't think any of the cultures in Dungeon Meshi is an exact copy of a real-world culture, Kui is remixing things together.

(Except for the Island of Wa, which seems to be entirely based on Sengoku-era Japan.)

Roman togas were just large pieces of cloth that they draped around their bodies, and they were usually white, with brown or black reserved for the lower-classes or for use during mourning, and purple or red reserved for extremely important people. Embroidery and trim, if they had it, was usually either very simple (plain colored stripes) or very elaborate (images of people, animals, or things).

So I think that rules out the toga as a possibility.

On the other hand, the saree and dupatta are also large pieces of cloth draped either around the body and over the shoulder (and sometimes the head), and usually they are either a single plain color, a plain color with a decorative trim, or an all-over pattern. This is a lot closer to what Kui draws the kobolds wearing.

(Pictures and more text after the cut)

Toga:

Saree:

The tunics the kobolds are wearing could be many things, as what's visible is not an uncommon neck shape. They could be something like a kurta, kaftan, or abaya (tunic/robe)... And there's probably a dozen other similar garments that I'm neglecting to name.

There are a million variations on the kurta, but these neck styles looks like what Kui is drawing on a couple of those kobolds.

However, some of the tunics COULD also just be a depiction of what is often called a "Viking tunic" or kyrtill (Nordic name for a kirtle or tunic).

However in Dungeon Meshi, the kyrtill is extensively worn in the Eastern hemisphere, primarily by dwarves, tall-men and half-foots. So I don't think the Western hemisphere kobolds are wearing them, and the style of trim looks different to me than what Kui drew.

Kobold fashion could also be influenced by any culture from North Africa, West Asia, or the Middle East, as these are also cultures that appear to dominate the Western hemisphere of Dungeon Meshi, and that have similar fashion cultures involving patterned textiles and draping cloth/veils/head coverings...

However, because of what seems like a large draping cloth over the shoulder, and the combination of trim with a solid color, I think the primary influence is South Asian rather than these other cultures.

I hope that helps! And keep in mind that Kui loves to remix things, so I'm sure there's elements from other cultures that would fit right in with what she's shown us of the kobolds, if you want to get creative with your fan works!

[agentoffangirling]

as a south asian why the hell did they make aladdin and jasmine south asian. I am so confused. Isn't jasmine's name literally persian

Okay okay so there's a bit of a story for this

And to quickly answer your last question, yup, Jasmine is one of the forms of Yas/Yasmine, our jasmine flowers

So back in the 90s, and still a little bit today, many production companies such as Disney didn't really see a difference with the Middle East and South Asia. When Disney decided they wanted to make an adaptation of "Aladdin" from "One Thousand and One Nights" (slight tidbit here, the story of Aladdin is not part of the original book. A French guy added it in and for some reason, set it in China? One Thousand is a Persian story, most of the stories in there are Persian, so this choice was. Interesting), it's not like they suddenly hired a bunch of Middle Eastern experts to consult on the film. No, they just created a desert-y landscape and lumped in Persian, Arab, and South Asian all in there

This is why the palace of Agrabah heavily resembles the Taj Mahal on a more Arabic-sounding name. Rajah, Jasmine's pet tiger, is an Indian word for king. Names such as Jafar and Jasmine are Persian in origin, while a lot of the clothing is Turkish-inspired. Villains such as the Captain and Jafar have a lot more stereotypically Middle Eastern features (hooked nose, bushy eyebrows, etc [and it's a convo for another day about how the "good" characters don't have these exaggerated features])

This melding of several cultures is what led up to the live-action "Aladdin" in 2019. The creators of that movie wanted to be more respectful of the region, and so this time, they did hire consultants and the like to help ensure it would be much less offensive ("where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face", nice going 1992)

And for the most part, they did that. Except for Jasmine

Jasmine is played by Naomi Scott, a half white half Indian woman, and look, it's pretty obvious she only got this part because she's well known. I would also like to point out that the casting calls for the characters in general once again lumped Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern people, however, almost all of the cast is Middle Eastern, and several of them are Persian (Sultan and Mara, notably)

So while everyone else is wearing clothes more indicative of the Middle East, you have miss Jasmine over here dressed in sarees and Indian-inspired clothing because costuming department went "oh! She's Indian now!" Agrabah is also a lot more similar to South Asia than the Middle East, further deepening this issue

To an outsider, "Aladdin" is Indian. To them, there's some Arab inspo, but they would mostly think it's set somewhere in India or South Asia. That's what the casting and costuming department in "Rise of Red" were working with, and so they just opted to go the whole South Asian angle. None of the actors who portray Jasmine, Aladdin, and their kid are Middle Eastern, they're all South Asian. The clothes they're wearing are very obviously from that region

And if I'm being completely honest, that's exactly what I expect from Disney. Why would they bother to do research for extremely minor characters with two lines? The problem here is what I've been talking about above, is that Hollywood is constantly thinking South Asians and Middle Easterners are interchangeable when we're not. If I see a MENA character on screen, more often than not the actor is South Asian. This is a continuous problem no one from these places wants to see happening, and yet it is because Hollywood doesn't actually care. The more it's done, the more they think it's okay and so they continue to blur the lines between several different cultures

So, on an ending note, Jasmine and Aladdin are Arab, if not Persian, and the idea that we are interchangable with South Asians harms both our cultures

[melaninenchantress]

World Women in Sarees: Explore the Diversity of Indian Saree Drapes"

"Hey, lovelies! Welcome back to my blog, where we celebrate the beauty and diversity of sarees from around the world!

Today, I want to showcase the stunning Nivi drape, a classic style from South India. This gorgeous red saree is adorned with intricate gold embroidery, adding a touch of luxury to the overall look.

But what I love most about sarees is the countless ways you can drape them! From the elegant Pallu drape to the trendy Seedha Pallu style, each region in India has its own unique way of wearing a saree.

Stay tuned for more saree inspiration, and don't forget to share your own favorite saree styles with me!

[olderthannetfic]

Lol at the anon with the sweater/sweatshirt and Washington/Virginia ask

Yeah, sure, lemme go and study in meticulous detail every minor regionalism and geographical feature of your Greatest Nation so I can write fics for fun more correctly. While the rest of us can’t expect an USAmerican to find our country on a map, let alone its capital, or to know that not every single garment in Asia is either a kimono or a saree. I get pet peeves and neurodivergence but come on.

--

[intellectual6666]

I love going out on Republic day or on Independence day.

I went out to the market with my father and trust me when I say, the place is covered in tricolour. Wherever I lay my eyes on, I see the three beautiful colour which binds our country. Little girls wearing headbands and handbands of tricolour, every shop putting up our flag in the front, every corner of the streets covered in little flags or colours. Most women wearing tricoloured sarees. Every guy wearing a tricolour cap. It really feels that our country achieved something. No matter from which caste, religion or region one is, we are all the same on these dates.

Happy Republic Day everyone 🇮🇳

[matrimonysitesblog]

Finding the Perfect Wedding Gift in India: A Concise Guide

Introduction:-

Choosing the perfect wedding gift in India is a delightful but daunting task. Gifting traditions vary with the rich tapestry of different cultures across regions. Here's a quick guide to help you navigate this exciting journey:-

1. Understand the Couple:-

Personalize:- Look at their hobbies, interests, and lifestyle. Does she love cooking? She would be the happiest if given a set of good cookware. Does she travel frequently? A travel coupon or an amazing luggage set is always well received.

Lifestyle:- Is it a newlyweds' house? House essentials like home appliances, beautiful decorations, or fine dinner sets are always well-received.

2. Indian Traditions:-

Money is always golden:- In India, especially in various parts of India, money as a gift is always most precious.

Gold:- Gold jewelry is one of the most classic and cherished gifts for the bride.

Silverware:- A silver platter, cutlery set, or silver decorative items will be elegant and auspicious.

3. Think of Regional Traditions:-

North India:- Cash gifts, appliances, and home decor are favored.

South India:- Gold jewelry, silverware, and silk sarees are generally preferred.

West India:- Cash gifts, appliances, and designer wear are favored.

East India:- Cash gifts, handicrafts, and tea sets are high in fashion.

4. Experiences are the best:-

Travel Voucher:- Give them the experience of the honeymoon.

Couple Spa Day:- A newlywed would love to have a day spent relaxing together.

Cooking Classes:- It's the perfect fun for them to share time.

5. Presentation is everything:-

Pack it wisely:- It has to be an attractive one by either using traditional Indian print or by the usage of eco-friendly material.

Add a personal touch:- write a heartfelt card to them for their happily ever after life.

By considering these factors, you can choose a wedding gift that is both meaningful and memorable for the happy couple. Happy Gifting!

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.20

Holidays

Abolition Day (Réunion)

Barahimizong (Sikkim, India)

Big Chungus Day

Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Burma)

Captain America Day

Cathode-Ray Tube Day

Day of National Mourning (Panama)

Dot Your I's Day

Dot Your I's With Smiley's Day

Fête des Cafres (Abolition of Slavery Day; Réunion, French Guiana)

Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover Day

Fur-Day

Games Day

Go Caroling Day

Halcyon Days of Calm Seas begin

International Human Solidarity Day (UN)

International Wrinkled Shirt Day

Invocation of Molag Bal (Elder Scrolls)

Katharina von Bora Day

Kitzmas

Louisiana Purchase Effective Day

Make An Ornament Day

Mudd Day

National Gregory Day

National Steven Day

Patient Empathy Day

Poet Laureate Day

Resilience Night

Ring of Troth Day

Sacagawea Day

SARE Day (Macau)

Security Agency Worker’s Day (Russia)

Shovel Day (French Republic)

Space Force Day

State Courier Service Day (Kazakhstan)

Stolen Day

Tammasmass E'en (Orkney Islands)

Try to Remember Where You Hid the Christmas Gifts Day

World Day of Skepticism

World Kajalism Day

Wrinkled Shirt Day

Yuletide Lad #9 arrives (Bjugnakraekir or Sausage Pilferer; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

BPT Remembrance Day (Before Pop Tarts)

National Cortado Day (Spain)

National Parsley Day

National Sangria Day

Pop Tart Day

Independence & Related Days

Camboriu (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Campinia (Declared; 2000) [unrecognized]

Lycem (Declared; 2012) [unrecognized]

Macau (Macau Special Administrative Region established, 1999)

South Carolina (Seceded from the U.S.; 1860)

St. John (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

3rd Friday in December

Christmas Jumper Day (EU) [3rd Friday]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Mad Friday (UK) [3rd Friday]

National Holiday Party Day [3rd Friday]

National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day [3rd Friday]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

Underdog Day [3rd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 20 (3rd Full Week of December)

None Known

Festivals Beginning December 20, 2024

Night of the Proms (Cologne, Germany) [thru 12.21]

NOLA Christmasfest (New Orleans, Louisiana) [thru 12.30]

Winter Beer Festival (Seattle, Washington) [thru 12.21]

Feast Days

Beverly Pepper (Artology)

Cheech & Chong Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Clodion (Artology)

David Markson (Writerism)

Dominic of Silos (Christian; Saint)

Guyton Morveau (Positivist; Saint)

Hogswatchnight (in Discworld) [December 32]

Ivana Kobilca (Artology)

Kate Atkinson (Writerism)

Midwinter’s Eve Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Mōdraniht (Mother’s Night; Anglo-Saxon Pagans)

Mother Night (Beginning of Yuletide; Celtic, Pagan) [Begins at Sunset]

Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet (Artology)

Not Frank Zappas Birthday (Pastafarian)

O Clavis David (4th O Antiphon or Great Advent Antiphon; Christian) [O Key of David; 4 of 7]

Onion Stuck with 9 Pins to Send True Love Night (Old England)

Paul of Latrus (Christian; Saint)

Philogonius (Christian; Saint)

Pieter De Hooch (Artology)

Pongol of the Sun (Hindu)

The Refined Young Cannonballs (Muppetism)

Saturnalia Day 4: Unbound (Pagan)

Snowflake-Riding Championships (No Goblins; Shamanism)

Swashbuckling Day (Pastafarian)

Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne (Christian; Saint)

Ursinus (Celtic Book of Days)

Katharina von Bora (Lutheran)

Yaldā (Iran; eve of the birth of Mithra) [Day before Winter Solstice]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [50 of 53]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [69 of 71]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

All That Jazz (Film; 1979)

Aquamania (Disney Cartoon; 1961)

Beanstalk Jack (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

Born on the Fourth of July (Film; 1989)

Bring Himself Back Alive (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1940)

Busybody Bear, featuring Barney Bear (MGM Cartoon; 1952)

Cat Feud (WB MM Cartoon; 1958)

Cats (Film; 2019)

The Color Purple (Film; 1985)

Concert for Bangladesh (Live Album; 1971)

Double Dribble (Disney Cartoon; 1946)

Dreamgirls (Broadway Musical; 1981)

The Dumb Cluck (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1937)

Everybody Plays the Fool, recorded by The Main Ingredient (Song; 1971)

Father of the Bride (Film; 1991)

Flaming Star (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #6]

Gangs of New York (Film; 2002)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Film; 2011)

The Godfather Part II (Film; 1974)

The Greatest Showman (Film; 2017)

Grimm’s Fairy Tales (Fairy Tale Collection; 1812)

The Hand is Pinker Than the Eye (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1967)

Hare Lift (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit (Film; 1968)

Hot Rocks 1964-1971, by The Rolling Stones (Compilation Album; 1971)

I’m Cold (Tex Avery Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1954)

Island at the Top if the World (Film; 1974)

It’s a Wonderful Life (Film; 1946)

Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott (Novel; 1819)

JFK (Film; 1991)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Film; 2017)

Lover Come Back (Film; 1961)

The Man with the Golden Gun (US Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

My Fellow Americans (Film; 1996)

Name That Tune (Radio Series; 1952)

Out of Africa (Film; 1985)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (TV Series; 2023)

Persuasion, by Jane Austen (Novel; 1817) [#6]

Pinkcome Tax (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

Pink in the Drink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Puny Express (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1950)

Rocky’s Dilemma or A Squirrel in a Stew (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 7; 1959)

Rosamunde, by Helmina von Chézy with incidental music by Franz Schubert (Play; 1823)

The Sand Pebbles (Film; 1966)

Scream (Film; 1996)

The Shooting of Caribou Lou (The Inspector Cartoon; 1967)

Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (Film; 2019)

The Submarine Squirrel or 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 8; 1959)

They Were Expendable (Film; 1945)

Two Weeks Notice (Film; 2002)

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Disney Cartoon; 1968)

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! (Disney Cartoon; 1974)

The Witcher (TV Series; 2019)

Today’s Name Days

Eike, Holger, Julius, Regina (Austria)

Ignat (Bulgaria)

Eugen, Julije, Makarije, Slobodan, Zefirin (Croatia)

Dagmar (Czech Republic)

Abraham (Denmark)

Pärja, Pärje (Estonia)

Benjamin, Kerkko (Finland)

Isaac, Jacob, Théophile (France)

Eike, Holger, Julius (Germany)

Ignatios (Greece)

Teofil (Hungary)

Liberato, Macario (Italy)

Abrams, Argods, Arta, Minjona (Latvia)

Daugardas, Gražvilė, Teofilis (Lithuania)

Abraham, Amund (Norway)

Amon, Bogumiła, Dominik, Liberat, Teofil (Poland)

Ignatie (Romania)

Dagmara (Slovakia)

Domingo, Eugenio, Teófilo (Spain)

Israel, Moses (Sweden)

Ammon, Roxana, Roxanne, Roxie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 355 of 2024; 11 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 51 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 120 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 19 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 18 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 25 Black; Foursday [25 of 30]

Julian: 7 December 2024

Moon: 71%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 19 Bichat (13th Month) [Berthollet]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 90 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 29 of 30)