I was about 10 years younger than I am now, on a employment course in London for my company. As we were a global company with offices in Europe and India, there were also many attendees from these areas there too. I got to know some of them, mainly people who worked in same area as I did, but there was one young woman who kind of took my eye, she was at the back and even though she always listen to the tutor intensely, she never really took a great part in the discussions that were going on. She was Indian from the Mumbai office of our company, so I got chatting to her and we really did become friends there, she was really interested to know about life here in the UK, and I was really interested to know of her life back in India. She was working in the Mumbai office, but her family were all back in Kolkata, she had moved to Mumbai for work, but really missed her family back in WB. She had her father, mother and older sister, and lived in women's hostel in Mumbai. She seemed a bit lonely on the course, even though there were two other Indians there, they didn't really ever chat to each other. We really got on with each other, and on the off days I said I will show her London which she really appreciated, so I showed her around the famous sights in London. At lunch one day on the course she said I should come to Kolkata and visit her family which I accepted. Then unfortunately about 2 days later she had a message from home to say her father had gone into hospital, heart problems. So the next day she flew home but we exchanged email and phone numbers.
After few weeks had passed, though her father had unfortunately died due to heart failure, she invited me again to come to Kolkata to see her family, so I booked a 3 weeks flight stay in Kolkata and flew there, when she met me at the airport she was dressed in this amazing blue and yellow saree, as she knew how much I liked them. She had previously asked me to stay at her home, something I wasn't too sure about, so I thought why not, if I didn't like it I can always move to a hotel afterwards. We arrived at her home, where I was met by her mother in a splendid white saree, and her sister, also her in a beautiful red and gold saree, they really had thought about this! I was treated like royalty while there the 1st few days, I could do anything even though I offered to. Everyday we went out exploring, and everyday she wore a different saree, explaining that its her culture to wear saris in Kolkata, so this is what she must do. One day we were in a market, mainly textiles and clothes, so many saris for sale, so I asked her how she feels wearing saree, is it comfortable? What came next was a shocker, she asked me why don't I wear saree for 24 hours so I can experience what its like to wear a saree. I thought what the hell, why not? So we went into one of the shops there and I chose 3 saris for me to wear, and while we were there she got a woman to measure me for a blouse, in order to buy some plain blouses. We also bought petticoats and we left, I had bought myself some saris. When we returned home, she explained to her sister what we were going to do and she was really excited, dressing me up in a saree. So they told me to go and wash all over, and when I came out they gave me a petticoat to wear which I put on over my boxer shorts, and then they fitted the blouse on me (no bra), this blouse was feeling tight, but they said its normal and after few wears its loosens. Then came the saree. I had chosen different colours, the one they were going to drape me in was a yellow and light blue sari, so there I was standing in their room, 2 saree clad girls draping me in a saree. There were pins, pleats, pallu and blouses to be sorted, and in the end of it all, I was there, standing in an Indian home in full saree. I t was the most wonderful thing I had ever worn, to be covered from shoulders to feet in one single piece of cloth, a beautiful saree. They taught me how to sit, walk, as much as they can in the saree, but they say I will only learn about saree by wearing it, so I wear it their home all that day. I quickly learnt you cannot just wear a saree and let it flow, there are so many things you have to consider when wearing a saree, my left arm was busy all day, holding the pleats or the pallu, trying not to step on the pleats, trying not to get the pallu caught in anything. But for me to wear this, it felt absolutely wonderful and I was really enjoying it, even in the Kolkata heat, in their apartment with only fans working, no air con, they said if i was hot inside, wait till i go outside in saree, then i will feel it. Later in the day her mother returned home from working, and she see me dressed in the saree. At first she laughed, but after her daughters explained, she was really ok with it and was glad to see a male experiencing saree. In the evening, after I had the saree now on for quite a few hours, her mother had been on phone call, and she said her sister wanted to see me in saree. I said no, but they explained it will be a short walk to her home outside, so after much though (and pressure), I finally agreed, though I did not have any suitable footwear for outside in saree, so they said we all go bare feet. I thought that no one will know me here so it will be ok, and i secretly really wanted to experience the outdoors in saree too. So at late night we left their apartment for the great outdoors, me in my yellow and blue saree, mother in white saree, 2 daughters both in sarees. Kolkata was busy, but no one really took notice of white guy walking down road in yellow saree with 3 females in sarees. It really was a fun experience this, being able to walk in the streets in a saree, getting the full hands on of wearing a saree. Though there were times when I really wish I wasn't in a saree, one time my legs were so hot I lifted up my saree above my ankles to let some cooler air into my legs, but was quickly scolded by her mother, In Kolkata you do not do this, its against the society, it is the fact in a saree you have to suffer hot legs. So i continued with my legs and top area with the blouse on staying very hot. After some 30 mins we reached her home, I was so hot in this saree, but what can I do, it was my choice to come out in saree, though I was enjoying it very much too. When we went in the home there were about 15 other women, girls there, mostly in saree all gathered to see me in this saree. Some laughed, but the older women were amazed to see me in saree, and after much talking I was told that I looked good in saree and they were grateful that a man will experience a saree, something an Indian man has no idea about. We were in their room, all chatting, some were really wanting to know how I felt in saree, and to be honest I felt great, I didn't really want to remove it. We were there for nearly 2 hours, but after that I had asked if we can leave and go back, so the two sisters said we will go home now, but Mother was staying, so we said our goodbye, and the Sister of the mother presented me with 3 brand new wrapped saris, so I said thank you very much and we left. I have now got 6 saris. When we left her home it was gone midnight, I said I did not want to walk so they hailed a auto rickshaw driver, but when he see me in sari he said no, but the girls shouted at him and offered more money so he took us. They got in and I got in, as we were travelling, the 2 girls were laughing at me, as I was not holding my sari down like they were, they said there are so many things you have to know when wearing saree, like in auto rickshaw, remember to hold saree so it not blowing everywhere.
We eventually got home about 2am, and I just collapsed into my bedroom, and fell asleep, still wrapped in my saree. After good sleep, when I woke up the mother had gone to work and the two sisters were waiting for me to shower and then presented me with another saree to wear that day. This time I was really eager to wear it, and was actually looking forward to see what they had in mind for me today, so they draped a half silk saree on me, and gave me some chores to do in the home, chores normally a housewife will be expected to do, some cleaning, washing etc, all while I am in this saree. As I went on with the chores, they were following me like two naughty children giggling, but in the end they said I handles the works very well, considering I was in a saree. After lunch it was decided we will go onto the roof terrace outside and spend some time up there. Now me non Indian I was under impression the roof terrace belongs to their own family, how wrong I was, when we got up there, there were other girls and women on the terrace, all neighbours, many doing chores up there, washing sarees etc. So they see me, but yet again, I am astounded by their hospitality and even though there were some laughing, all in all the women took it very good that I was in saree.So we were all sat chatting, some of the girls spoke good english, though nearly all the older women were not able to. I discovered that one of the younger women was in fact from Bangladesh, she was explaining to me in her family all the women always have to wear saree, (or sharee as she said). So there she was in a beautiful dark green saree, and her mother was on the roof terrace also in a brown saree. She was really fascinated by me in this saree, she said she loved it that I was experiencing a saree, she said she was honoured that I am there, a tourist and in a saree. Again it was really hot in the sun, but I was ok, being around all these females, most in sarees, it was just great. I was feeling very comfortable in this saree too, though under my arms I was sweating so much, but i did notice so were all the women too, and they just carried on, I guess its normal? We were up there for a few hours, when suddenly there was a thunderstorm, so I headed for inside but was held back by them all, they said rain good for wearing sarees. So I was convinced to stay outside and revel in the rain in my saree, I got totally soaked, my saree sticking to my body like glue, but it was good fun. After some time we went inside so i said I need to change, and yet again, they were there with another saree to wear, so I waited for them to drape me in another saree. I was really enjoying this, for me the saree was amazing to wear, I was really loving it. The next day I was asked if I wanted to accompany the mother to the market for some food, in the daytime, in my saree!!! What the hell, why not, so I did, and I really enjoyed it too. I got so many looks mainly from men there but as I was always thinking, they don't know me, so why not? While we were there we met the girl from the rooftop who was Bangladeshi and her Mother also, so we were talking to them and they invited me to their home for some food and drinks, so I readily accepted it. I was informed by the mother it is good to take present for the Mother and daughter, so I said I will do that, and we went to a saree shop and I purchased 2 new sarees for them,the saree shop owner was amazed to see me in saree, he wanted to know everything why I was in saree, so Mother explained everything and he was amazed I was liking wearing them. I really was now enjoying wearing saree, i felt like i was indian female, though i am not. I was quickly learning how to wear saree now, how to hold the saree when walking, though I found it difficult sometimes when I have to hold things and I cant hold the pleats etc. Another thing i have yet to master is climbing stairs in saree, because my gf mother said you cannot lift saree too high above ankles, feet must always be covered in saree. I am also glad I don't have to wear bra as my blouse is getting very hot and sticky now anyway. I didn't have the heart to tell my friends there i didn't wear underwear either, I love to wear the saree with petticoat and blouse only, no under garments. When we got home I wanted to change into nice new saree for the Bangladeshi home, so i chose one of the nice sarees gifted to me, and I was then taught by the 2 daughters how to drape the saree, something I found difficult to do, but with some practice I managed it. I needed to pin the saree but didn't want to pin the whole pallu up so I can leave it loose, something I loved very much, though sometimes awkward too when you want to use left arm and pallu keeps falling down. We left the home for their neighbours and when we arrived there were so many others there, mainly women, some boys. We had a lovely time, all centred around me in my saree though, but by now I didn't care, I was enjoying it. I was really enjoying the attention, but also enjoying the sarees too. I stayed in my sarees for 6 days, went to markets in sarees twice, went to different saree shops also, one thing i do like is having a long pallu, down past my knees, I see some women with short pallu, some with long, maybe its personal preference? I learnt how to drape saree now, where to pin the saree, how to hold it, walk in it, everything, i loved wearing it so much. Two days before I was due to fly home I was invited to a Mehendi ceremony by one of the neighbours, and I will be expected to attend in a new saree, so later in that day we went out to the saree shops I had visited earlier to purchase a new saree. As the shop owner had already seen me in saree it was good of him to let me look for a new saree in his shop, and also try some sarees, I eventually bought a new chiffon half & half saree, pink and green. Because I had little time I had to buy a plain blouse, and new petticoat also. I got dressed in the apartment for the ceremony, all helped by the two daughters and mother also, and we made our way to the ceremony, i was only male there, and in saree too. There were about 150 other women and girls there, all in sarees, salwar kameez and anarkalis, all looked absolutely fabulous, and it seemed to me they all knew I was coming. We had a fantastic day and evening, exhausting but enjoyable, and my saree was a little on the heavy side too, so it made the fact I was hot even more hotter. I am now a confirmed saree crossdresser, I flew home the next day with so many happy memories, about a dozen sarees, blouses and petticoats, made many new friends, I now have 22 sarees at my home and wear them as often as I can. Sometimes daily. I will buy even more sarees too soon. I am now a SareeMan.
