Tradition

There was a time when I thought

Being traditional was not

Compatible with a progressive mind

Since my worldview was more aligned

With liberalism, I wanted to explore

Everything new, I hungered for more

Experiences to understand the world around me

My culture was relegated to dormant history..

*

Reinventing myself as I went on my way

Broadening my vistas every day

Breaking barriers passed down by tradition

I pushed boundaries to realize my ambition

Felt restless, unmoored despite it all

My original self I could not recall..

*

One day I received an invitation online

To join a group celebrating that garment fine

The traditional saree- a timeless attire

I joined the group, and felt a strong desire

To drape six yards of elegance around my frame

After that, things were just not the same..

*

The saree was the proverbial portal for me

Making me embark on a journey

Back in time, back to the cultural abundance

That I had abandoned in my ignorance

I reconnected with stories, music, dance and art

Of my culture, they are but an inalienable part

Of who I am, they represent where my roots still lie

The roots that undeniably gave me my wings to fly…