Oh. My. Goodness. What an incredible experience!
Ananya's mom reached out to me about videography for a special ceremony. I hadn't heard of this specific type of special event before, but a Half Saree Function (or Ritu Kala Samskaram) is a South Indian Hindu ceremony that acts as a rite of passage, and marks when a young girl becomes a woman. I know of similar events in different cultures, such as Bat Mitzvas, Quinceaneras, and in a far less legitimate sense, Sweet Sixteens; but I've never experienced something quite like the Half Saree Function.
You can view the video and read the story below!
Note: the photos included in this post are still frames taken from the video.
I shot video on two separate days. The first day, which was specifically for just the family, was the Tamil Manjal Neerattu Vizha or “Turmeric Bathing Ceremony.” All of the women in Ananya's family participated in this beautiful ceremony, first by painting her face, arms, and feet with a turmeric paste. Once everyone has participated, they shower the paste off by pouring water through a sort of colander. I was very curious about the symbolism behind this ritual, but wasn't able to find much information. Once Ananya was bathed, she was gifted with her first saree, a traditional garment worn by Indian women. From what I've read, the tradition is that a girl's first saree is supposed to be white to symbolize virginity (similar to the tradition behind the wedding dress).