An Udupi Outing

One of the first orders of business once we got settled into our rooms was to purchase a selection of kurtas, the traditional Indian tunics that women often wear as semi-casual, semi-dressy daytime attire. The more formal wrap saris are reserved for special occasions or particular dress codes - we learned, for example, that the Manipal University administration recently decreed that all faculty wear saris to work. 

Malathi, one of our host faculty members from the Manipal School of Nursing, wears a sari daily. She also told us that the gold necklace pictured here is worn only by married women. Husbands present these to their brides on the day of the wedding and they are never removed thereafter, not even for showering.

The Manipal University nursing students wear matching uniforms consisting of black slacks and button-down dress shirts, but kurtas (for community/rural village visits) and kurtas with medical whitecoats (for hospital observation) will be sufficient wardrobe for our time here.

Laura, Andrea, Shira, and Katie, ready for a day at Kasturba Hospital

Elissa told us that the girls in previous years had purchased their kurtas at Big Bazar, a local chain department store similar to a KMart. To get there, we'd have to ride in a rickshaw to Udupi, the town adjacent to Manipal, and brave the throng of shoppers that crowd the three-story establishment. The rickshaw was a simultaneously fun and horrifying experience, but I was too paralyzed with fear to take any pictures or video. More on that another time.

When we disembarked in Udupi, the rickshaw driver deposited us in the midst of a massive parade celebrating the installation of a new priest at the local Hindu temple. Note the man giving me the stinkeye:

The old and new priests approach on a golden bird float:

The bird!

The older guy in orange, at left, is the departing temple priest. The younger one at right is his replacement.

Inside Big Bazar, a treasure trove of new and interesting products awaited us.

I think if I were to try the skin lightening lotion I would literally just disappear into nothingness

Somewhere, a copyright is narrowly avoiding infringement

Snacky brand snacks!

It turns out many of us have similar tastes in kurta fashion and ended up buying the same ones. We try to wear them on different days, but sometimes the overlap is unavoidable.

Who wore it best?

Having donned the kurtas for a few days now, we've pretty unanimously agreed that they are much breezier than we anticipated in the 90 degree heat, despite the long sleeves. The thin cotton-weave fabric breathes easily and the loose cut permits a reasonable level of comfort throughout the day. Back home in the States, our new collection might morph into sundresses or be relegated to bathing suit cover-ups, but here they are helping us to feel a little less conspicuous as outsiders.

Rachel, Andrea, and Katie in their kurtas for Kasturba Hospital orientation. At least three people purchased the green tunic that Andrea is sporting here, and I bought Katie's tunic in magenta.

What's that you say? You want some grainy, poorly-exposed dorm room mirror selfies? Well if you INSIST:

 

More fashion pics to come, I'm sure. For now, it's time to nap. Next time on The Wind Blows You East: a chilling visit to the anatomy museum, which featured the largest (and only) collection that I have ever seen of dead babies preserved in tanks. Stay tuned!