Onam in Melbourne – And the Saree That Made Me Cry

First Onam away from home. My heart was heavy. I ordered a Kasavu saree from Dakshin Vastram, hoping to hold on to a tradition. When I wore it, something changed. I saw my reflection and it was like my Ammama smiling back at me. The pookalam wasn’t perfect, but the saree made it feel complete. We danced thiruvathira, we laughed, and I felt rooted again.