Story:

It’s called chunni, it’s like a shawl, from India. This one is at least 25 years old, from my mother’s wedding, and it was given to her from my father’s side, it’s a tradition. There are two shawls, one from my mum’s grandparents and one from her mother-in-law, from my dad’s side, that is. She had worn this one on her wedding day.

Arusi’s parents got married in 2002. Her dad, back then, was already living in Greece. He returned to India for the wedding and, later, in 2005, both of them moved to Greece.

She brought these as mementos as well, and still has them with her. There is a celebration where women, married ones, fast for a whole day, on the anniversary of their weddings. In Indian, it’s called Karva Chauth. It’s so that the husband lives long. During this celebration, the woman prays twice a day and wears this.

Arusi tells us that now it’s very difficult to find something similar in India, as the designs are more modern and because they are now made industrially and not by hand.

I feel very nice that I have something from my mum’s wedding to see, and it’s also the photos and other items. My mum is older than all the siblings, she has 6 siblings, 3 girls and 3 boys. The chunni carries a lot of my mother’s and my grandmother’s emotions.

Arusi tells us that her family still lives in Athens. She explains that she visited India for the first time when she was 2 years old, for her aunt and uncle’s wedding. She also shares with us that her mother is from Punjab and her father is from Himachal.