I Am Male .but Still My Parents Allow Me To Wear Sarees 

I am sumesh from Maharashtra. I am being brought up by my maternal uncle and aunt who don't have children. My aunt is so caring. And i always has gratitude towards her. She always wished she could have a BABY girl which she had after two years. She wanted to raise her traditionally but the girl was never supposed to listen.Even i was a bit modern . I used to have a long hair and also pierved both my ears for a long time. Aunt never opposed it.

Four years back when i was 18-19, one evening she got a huge anklet pair which was very heavy. She told that it was given by her mother who wanted it to be worn by her daughter and grands so on. So she called Madhu(my sister) and offered her to wear them. And also took out a pair of old styled jhumkies to be worn by madhu. She said there is a nose ring which i wolud give you once your nose piercing is over. But to her surprise Mdhu rejjected them and said she won 't like that kind of stuff .

Aunt was very upset. She cried a lot remembering her mother that night. I felt bad and decided to give consolation. I slowly went to her and told that i would wear that payal around my feet and would carry it to further generations. She said nu sumi u can't wear it forever..you are male. I said i won't mind it. She just got up and kissed my forehead. And called my sister and told her about this.I told give me the payal ..i will wear that. Then aunt said no no no it needs a custom and some rituals.

Next day she called me into the hall and said sumi you need to wear traditionsl blouse and skirt with silk border to wear the payal for the first time.. Are you ready? I said ok. then she called her tailor and asked him to take my measurements for skirt and blouse.

After a week we got my female dresses and my aunt APPLIED henna on my hands and feet during night and applied some mixtures on my hair.

She said tomorrow morning you will wear the payal and earrings of my mother. She invited some neighbors and relatives for the ceremony.

Next day Early morning she asked me to take a clean bath and asked me to remove all the hair except on head. After coming out she gave me the newly stitched skirt and asked to wear it. i went in came out wearing it. She then helped me wear a bra she baught for me and made me wear the blouse with silk border.She then made plaits on my hair and inserted some jasmine flowers into that.And attached a maang tikka on my head.Also tied a beautiful necklace around my neck and APPLIED a fake nose stud on my left nose trill.

Slowly 10-15 PEOPLE gathered and all made me wear one or two bangles each. Suddenly my hands got filled up with bangles.Then aunt performed some rituals on me.  and asked madhu to bring the jewelery box and got the payal and tied them around my feet. I just loved the weight around my feet.that payal had many bells.  Now aunt said sumi..just have a walk. I started walking and tears came out of her eyes out of joy that the legacy is continued.

She then removed my earstuds and inseted the big jhumkis of her mother and handed me a mirror to look into. They were very cute and i loved the sense of the weight in the ears. Madhu was watching all this with a careless look. then aunt emotionally said today onwards you are my elder daughter. And she came near to me and kissed my forehead and she  said Sumi... please wear these payal and jhumki all times except when you feel shy to go in public(college...etc)..

Every day as soon as i return home i wear those payal and jhumkis....Where as my uncle always scold me for this..my aunt would say he is my daughter don't scold him.

I slowly started liking the jeweleries and female dresses. Everyday i would die to wait to change into my payal.. And slowly oneday i asked my aunt shall i wear the dress i wore on that day.. She asked are u sure sumi? I said yes. And also said i would like to wear the nosering also if you permit.

She replied sumi that nose ring can't worn unless our nose is pierced. How can you wear it? I said then why not pierce it.  She asked "why sumi?"

I replied now i have started liking all these things and i know that you are also worried about that nose ring.    then she said Sumi...it is ok...

but wearing a nose ring and payal and jhumki with pant and shirt will look odd...And said leave it..

Even i was disappointed but felt happy that i yet have the payal and jhumki to enjoy.

During the summer vacation oneday aunt said Sumi let's go for shopping i have to buy something and lets buy somer t shirts for you. We started and first we entered into boy's section and bought some T shirts. And later went into the female section. Aunt started asking for half sarees and i was confused because Madhu does't like them. She asked for my choices and i opted for three different colors. She handed them over to me said Sumi this is for you. Then she selected some sarees for me.Shopkeepers were stunned to see me trying the sarees arround my body. Once got home next day aunt called our tailor and ordered for the blouses for me. Once the blouse was ready she made me wear a half saree and took me out to a jewelery shop. She went in and spoke to somebody. I was waiting out and in a few minutes i got a call from inside. Inside i saw an old man along with my aunt . They made me sit in a chair. The old man asked me which side? I looked at my aunt. Aunt just showed her with her finger..I was surprised and aunt hinted at RIGHT side. The old man pierced my right nose trill and inserted a g olden wire insided that askedme not to remove it for 15 days and then wear whatever you wish. I was supposed to getup ..aunt said wait Sumi... You got to have some more piercings on your ear. I was happy to hear that. And got three more on each ear.