A guide to surviving Boi Mela in a saree

Saree – the physical manifestation of the thin line that lies between enjoying traditional Bengali attire and having a horrible day trying to maintain the draping. Victims of the latter can be found in Ekushey Boi Mela these days. Upon questioning them, one may receive numerous complaints. A thorough examination of these complaints reveals that a few precautions are all one needs in order to have a successful and saree-full day.

Here are some of the findings:

Bring your compassionate and patient friend...and a lot of safety pins

Nothing beats a tight petticoat and a securely tucked-in saree with carefully placed pins but, in case things go awry, it is better to be safe than sorry. Most likely than not, two safety pins will be spent on perfecting the aesthetic of the attire, if not the durability. You might also wish to pin your open anchal at the shoulder if you ever get tired of carrying it on your arm. This is also useful when the crowd in front of a stall gets too overwhelming and saree-wearers have to prepare for a battle. A reliable friend will not only help with these adjustments but will see you through everything else that the day has to offer as well.

Wear flats

Hiking through the Boi Mela terrains can be simplified with sandals or even boots if you are feeling fancy. Wearing heels is not completely undoable but that privilege is only reserved for the pros. 

Choose a suitable bag

A small backpack is a perfect carrier since it is both easy to carry and safeguard from pickpocketing. It can also help to take the burden off of your arms as you go around the fair collecting more and more bags of books. Just keep the backpack aside when taking pictures if you are not keen on its mismatching synergy with your saree. 

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Make sure you have adequate time on your hands

Locating stalls, roaming around, or clicking pictures – whatever your aim may be, it is crucial to have enough time so that you can spend a relaxed day. Having a time limit might be more stressful to handle when you have to simultaneously handle the delicate pleats of your saree.

Move in a large group 

Marching in unison with friends can provide you with the moral support required to walk around so much. This also reduces pickpocketing risks and other dangerous situations one can fall into, for example, getting lost.

Finally, how to deal with men/people who make you feel uncomfortable 

Loudly booing at them and staring back often works well to make them feel ashamed of their intrusive actions. However, these options are recommended only if you are in a large trustworthy group. If you are alone, or just feel particularly uncomfortable to address the men, talking to the nearest stall owners can help in taking further actions against the buffoons.

With this knowledge, hopefully more saree enthusiasts can enjoy their first trip to Ekushey Boi Mela after the pandemic and return with a fully positive experience that they had envisioned and rightfully deserve.

Lamia wore a saree to Boimela, became pothik from Obak Jolpan and had a so-so day to produce this article. Ask her for boi recommendations at lamiakarimxd@gmail.com