An image makeover…and some more
I know I promised a more coherent and meaningful post soon, but this is not it. I am still in makeover mood and coherent thought is impossible until that’s complete. 🙂
The other day, I got a haircut and bought some great clothes. Today, i went one step further. After extensively analysing the pros and cons getting my nose pierced, I finally went and did it! Now, let me give you a background. This nose piercing business is at least a decade old. I wanted to get it done, first when I was in school, then in college. In school, it was a passing thought, but in college, it became somewhat of an obsession. One fine day, I proudly announced to my mother that I was going to get it done. And to her credit, she supported me in this endeavour. However, the villian of the piece turned out to be my aunt.
While debating the best side to pierce, my aunt said that it was convention to get the right side pierced before marriage and the left after it. Now, may I add here that I was rather adamant in wanting the left nostril pierced. To this, my aunt vehemently objected, emphasizing for added effect that it was against Madhwa protocol to do so before the wedding. Now, if I may say so myself, anything that is deemed to be against Madhwa protocol becomes my personal protocol. So, here I was, adamant that if my nose was ever pierced, it would be the left nostril. My grandmother added to the confusion saying that both her nostrils were pierced before marrriage. So, in the debating process, the actual idea of getting the nose pierced disappeared into oblivion.
Six years hence, in my desire to get an image makeover, I decided this morning to get my nose pierced. My mother, again to be credited, gave her go-ahead. My aunt, trying to confuse again said that it was only Tamilians who pierced their left nostril before marriage. At which point, I decided enough was enough and declared that I was going to get the left nostril pierced, whatever protocol that may follow. If I had to convert to Iyerism for it, so be it!!
So, here I am. With my left nostril pierced. I finally won a six year-old battle to get my nose pierced. Now, I have a nose stud on my left nostril. And yes, I forgot to mention that the stud is in diamond and I am a good six thousand rupees poorer because of it. On second thoughts, maybe I should never have tickled the sleeping dragon. My nose hurts. I never knew there were these many nerves on the damned thing. Everyone tells me the pain will disappear in a day or two. Meanwhile, I keep my fingers crossed hoping I will not contract any infection because of that terrible ordeal I went through for a measly nose stud. Will keep you posted!
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6 Comments
Allytude
Good for you! Brave girl! I remember when I got my ears pierced a second time when I was in Delhi, it was a sort of a dull ache for a long long time- and the Delhi heat just made it worse.
Anyway, aren’t you glad you are not supposed to be a good Garhwali woman and get the middle of your nostril pierced( some tribes among them do that). Or worse still wear a “nath”, not a pin and have a tola added every time your husband/ in-laws do better at work/business or become more successful. There is a lovely story in Hindi about this( I forget who it is by).
amrutha
Oh no!! Don’t tell me! 🙂 Am rebellious enough to refuse flatly any such attempts at torture…
Suchitra
LOL, nice blog. Mine was a s lil’l different. I wanted my nose pierced, but my mom was against it. She wanted me to get a second pai on my ears. I too did, but pretended to not want it.
I tild her, I’d get my ears done, if she’d allow me to get the nose and if she’d foot the bill. So, went ahead last week, and got that makeover. People give you this OMG!!! startled look
Suchitra
And what is a tola?
Welcome to my blog! 🙂 A tola is a measure of weight if I am not mistaken. It’s those huge drum-like earrings you see in many parts of India. In TN, it is worn by old women in the Thirunelveli district. Anyway, good you got it done. You just need to indulge yourself sometimes. It’s fun to do that.
Suchitra
:)- Absolutely. We couldnt’ve indulged if we were male I guess.
The funny part here is what my mom did the opposite. It’s usually the encouragement to stick to tradition, and demanding to get your nose pierced, while the ears are left to fashion.
Here, the encouragement was to pierce my ears a second pair, while the nose was the discouragement. Funny how the world behaves at times. Anyhow, just for the kicks of it, I plan on a 2-3 more on my ears, sincerely hoping that there’s some space left. And oh yes!! It sets your account back by quite a bit 🙁
I think tola is actually thola, tamil/malayalam for hole. Looks like some culture to pierce more holes in the ears for auspicious occasions. Not sure though
Deepak Mohan
Interesting. I remember reading a similar blog post last year. I thought all this was dying down with time. Well, whatever. I am sure the thing hurt like hell.
I blog at disorientedoutoffocus.blogspot.com
It did hurt. But the result is well worth the effort. Welcome to my blog. 🙂