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Srividya Ravi

@ghostreeler

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Otrovert - with zero apologies. Outgoing and off-grid as needed.

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30 minutes of practice and a lifetime of memories…

A short break from homework, one random reel… and suddenly Amma and A are doing the trend. 😂❤️

Joys of Parenting.. by @ghostreeler

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a month ago

Ponderings…

Being a mom to a neurodivergent child is never easy.

What makes it harder is explaining how a child can be brilliant at some things and struggle with what seems “simple” to everyone else.

A child who can talk endlessly about space, pick up a tune the first time, remember maps and directions like he drew them himself, have the memory of an elephant, or sing, dance and perform in front of 1,000 people…
can still struggle to follow more than three instructions at once.

He may not be able to judge the distance between a ball and his hand quickly enough to catch it. He may need a routine that cannot suddenly change. He may feel emotions far louder than most adults. And an impromptu performance? That can be a completely different ball game.

This week, I had one of those moments that made me realise just how far “A” has come.

There was a time when 4–5 kids singing Happy Birthday was too much.

This time, he not only stood through the Teen Maar playing with this post, he enjoyed it.
He danced. ❤️
And trust me when I say that’s not easy. It is almost equal to climbing a mountain for some kids.

Most people see the child he is today. Very few know the journey behind him. And I don’t blame anyone. That’s simply how awareness works—we can only understand what we know.

But I wish we would pause before labelling.

Lazy. Difficult. Doesn’t understand. Won’t listen.

Maybe before labelling a child, we could pause. What if we asked why instead?

Why is this too much?
Why does that texture bother?
Why can’t you do this today?

Because sometimes “I won’t” is actually “I can’t.” Atleast yet can’t.

And when a child chooses one person to melt down with, remember—
It isn’t just love. It is trust.

A and I have bad days too. Days that drain us both. We pause, regroup and come back stronger.

So Can we unlearn what we think we know?

Can we relearn?

And most importantly, can we teach the next generation empathy, not sympathy?

Because inclusion isn’t about making every child fit into our world.

It’s about making the world willing to understand theirs. ❤️

#neurodiverse #nuerodivergent #mom by @ghostreeler

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2 months ago

A completely last-minute decision to visit Kausalyam 2026—an exhibition celebrating art and textile traditions from across India.

And what a good decision that turned out to be.

Everywhere I looked, there was something beautiful. Ajrakhs, Kalamkari, Banjara needlework, Pattachitra, exquisite weaves… and so many more art forms that deserve to be seen in person. Some things just refuse to be captured in photos. This was one of them.

One of the best parts? Catching up with Srinivas Garu @varashreeluxury I always enjoy our conversations. His passion for handlooms, his vision, his ideas… every chat leaves me learning something new and appreciating our textiles a little more.

There were interesting bags, jewellery, footwear, home décor… basically an exhibition designed to test every ounce of my self-control. 😄

Which brings us to the million-dollar question…

Did I shop?

My lawyer has advised me not to answer that question.

Let’s just say… time will tell. 😉😂

And now, the saree.

Yes, I wore a Kanchi to a textile exhibition.
The inspiration? Entirely Vidhya’s. ❤️ @livingthedge

Another beauty from Amma’s collection, and I still can’t get over how vibrant the colours are after all these years. Some sarees don’t age… they simply gather stories.

Also… yes… the saree got a fair bit of attention too. I mean, how could it not? 😉

#kanchi by @ghostreeler

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3 months ago

Why I picked this saree?

For the longest time, I had packed these sarees away.

This one, along with seven others, was part of my wedding trousseau.

For years, they carried bittersweet memories. And somewhere along the way, I chose to hold on to the bitter more than the sweet. So they stayed tucked away, untouched. In fact, two of them were even converted into dresses… and I never wore those either.

But age has a funny way of changing perspective.

Today, I don’t see these sarees as reminders of a chapter. I see them as reminders of the people who made that chapter beautiful.

I remember the excitement of picking each one. My mom lovingly choosing them for me. Endless discussions, opinions, laughter, and shopping with my Perima, Mama, Mami, Chitti, Dad, and the extended family. Those memories deserve just as much space as the others—perhaps even more.

This saree, like most of my wedding silks, has been draped only twice.

And thanks to Vidhya (yes, I’m blaming you 😄), I pulled out every single silk saree I own and actually took stock of my collection.

Safe to say… for the next decade, I absolutely do not need another silk saree.

Kanchis. Uppadas. Narayanpets. Ikkats (Pochampally, Odisha and Rajkot). Kalamkaris. Tussars of almost every kind. Banarasis. Chanderis. Koorainadu. Organzas. Mushirabad. Bishnupur. Gajji… and probably a few more I’ve forgotten.

So if you spot me buying a new saree… I can confidently say it won’t be one of these. 🤣

Sometimes, healing is as simple as unfolding a saree you’ve been afraid to wear… and choosing to remember the love that came wrapped in it.

#fridaykanchi #kanchisarees
@vidhya_fridaykanchi by @ghostreeler

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4 months ago

When I read today’s theme on Vidhya’s page a few days ago, my brain immediately went into full cataloguing mode of the Kanchi’s I had

Sorted by category.
No zari.
Thread work.
No borders.
Hand-me-downs.
Mine.

Yes… my brain works a little more than I give it credit for .

But while it was busy making lists, the very first saree that popped into my head was this beautiful Kanchi from my Perima’s wedding trousseau.

And almost instantly, the picture in my head was complete.

This Kanchi.
A book.
A mug of freshly made hot chocolate.
And absolute quiet.
Just me .. disappear into my own little world.

That’s a date I owe myself.

The only thing standing between me and that plan right now is this stubborn cold. Once it’s gone, this Kanchi is going café hopping with me.

It was the earthy tone of this Kanchi that drew me in. And the softness of the zari… that’s what I love the most. It carries the gentle reminder that this saree has already lived a life—through celebrations, conversations, laughter, and memories—long before it found its way to me.

Oh, and after keeping them tucked away for far too long, I finally brought out my Vaira Thodu—the earrings that were passed down to me to become part of new stories.

#fridaykanchi @vidhya_fridaykanchi by @ghostreeler

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3 months ago

Second post of the day .. I told you so.

Had more Golu visits lined up and could’ve repeated the earlier saree. But Archana and I had a Ying-Yang moment to create, so here we are!

This beauty from Srinivas Garu is one of those pieces that works pretty much everywhere. Traditional, contemporary, fusion, weddings, parties — just change the styling and you’re good to go.

The only catch? The white. Which I specifically wanted, by the way. But whites and I have a history of mysterious stains, unexplained spills and general bad karma. Don’t ask. The universe has its favourites and, I’m definitely not one of them when wearing white.

PS: Familiar blouses and jewellery are making repeat appearances because Navaratri is almost coming to an end.At this point, if it’s out of the cupboard, it’s getting repeated.

#varashreeluxury @varashreeluxury @arch.venk #my9colorsnavaratri by @ghostreeler

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4 hours ago

Ands its a Bingo!!

A two-saree day, so obviously, there’s another post coming. 😂

And yeeeesss! Bingo is officially DONE. The last box, finally ticked! 🎉

This one’s from my wedding trousseau. A chapter I don’t particularly enjoy talking about, but I’m learning to look at it differently.

Now, the story of how this saree made it into my closet.

I had to pick seven sarees. We started at RMKV, spent all of 20 minutes there, picked one saree, and walked out.

Please don’t ask where that saree is today. Let’s just say it was a bad dream. 😂

Then came Nalli. There were about 10–15 of us, and while the rest of the gang was doing what normal people do — looking at colours, comparing designs, examining details and pulling out saree after saree — Mom and I were parked in a corner, watching the proceedings and borderline overwhelmed.

Until our eyes landed on the mannequin.

LOVE. AT. FIRST. SIGHT.

That saree was picked.
Then came another. Then another..
And before we knew it, six of our seven sarees were chosen without us doing much actual shopping. 😂

Just when I thought we were done, Dad spotted THIS one — the rust and green.

I honestly have no clue what he saw in it, but he was absolutely insistent that I get it. No arguments. This saree was coming home.

Now that I think about it, perhaps Patti had a similar one, and maybe Dad wanted me to have one too.

Anyway, this saree came home, but never made it into my wedding wardrobe.

A year or two later, when I finally draped it, OH. MY. GOD.

Pure love. No drama, no second thoughts. Just one of those sarees that makes you wonder why you didn’t wear it sooner.
Funny how the saree you didn’t even plan to pick ends up being the one. ❤️

And the blouse?
It was the only blouse lying around, and I picked it without giving it a second thought.
No saga there.

#navratri2026 #navaratrisareebingo #vidskanchis #my9colorsnavaratri @livingthedge @srilata_kala @srilakshmi15

Jewelry - @callistabyradhika by @ghostreeler

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9 hours ago

Just another day of Golu hopping and giving my sarees their moment!

Finally, a Kanchi for Navaratri! Borderless, Kattam, pure silk, pure zari and a drape that behaves itself.
What more could I ask for? ❤️

This one wasn’t even meant for me originally. But destiny had other plans.
Five years later, here we are! Proof that what’s meant for you will find you. Especially if it’s a saree.

Pinterest for the blouse inspiration, and a pair of earrings making a comeback after years .

#navaratrisareebingo #navrangnavratriwithbhamasri
#vidskanchis #my9colorsnavaratri #navratri2026 @livingthedge @srilata_kala @srilakshmi15 by @ghostreeler

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a day ago

Second post of the day, powered entirely by chocolate. 🍫

Two hot chocolates and a bar of dark chocolate later, the girl is back and ready to face the world again. Or at least Golu visits.

Off to Golu visits, but another saree was simply asking too much of me today.

So, a dress it was. Just the right amount of traditional, with maximum comfort and minimum effort.

Finished with statement earrings that has been in hibernation for four years.

PS: Blame Hum Aapke Hain Koun for the song choice. Blame the chocolate for everything else.
#navaratri by @ghostreeler

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2 days ago

A music recital by “A” at the Bhadrakali Temple by @ghostreeler

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2 days ago

Some days, the brain cells and body cells are clearly not on speaking terms. Today was one such meeting gone horribly wrong.

All I wanted was a quiet corner, a book, hot chocolate with an unreasonable amount of whipped cream, a few bars of chocolate and for the world to collectively forget I exist.

But my brain cells, being the overenthusiastic, unsolicited motivational coaches: “Vidya, it’s all in your mind. Get up, get moving, get dressed!”

The body cells: “Vidya, don’t fall for this scam. We’re not in our 20s anymore. REST.

After 30 minutes of intense negotiations, the strong headed me obviously sided with the brain. Because apparently, listening to my own body is also not an option.
So, up I got and picked this Mysore Silk for the GI Tag Bingo box.

But this one? Absolutely special. ❤️ This was Mom’s very first saree, bought long before she even got married.

The only silver lining to an otherwise please-don’t-perceive-me-today kind of day.

And the drape? Oh, I could practically hear Mom rolling her eyes from wherever she is. Experimenting with her precious Mysore Silk? HOW DARE I! 😂 Pretty sure there’s a complaint being filed somewhere upstairs.

Anyway, done yapping for the day. Brain cells can celebrate their victory. Body cells and I are retreating to our shell, where we shall be accepting no visitors, no questions and absolutely no unsolicited motivation.

If anyone needs me, I’ll be in a committed relationship with my hot chocolate. Please respect our privacy.

PS: The green-for-blue was A’s idea. He said something about Mother Earth and colours and all that… my brain just went, “Not today, please!”

#navaratri #navaratrisareebingo #navrangnavratriwithbhamasri @srilata_kala @srilakshmi15 @arch.venk
#mysoresilk by @ghostreeler

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2 days ago

Navaratri Day 6!

Another day, another episode of How I Managed to Survive!

A had a performance at a temple in Warangal, which meant another day of driving around and pretending I have my life together.

Started the day by ticking off the Traditional Combinations box with this black-and-red Bomkai (correct me if I’m wrong, saree experts! )

Took pictures, ran a few errands and then reality hit. The heat was NOT having it, and the threads getting pulled out were giving me anxiety. I was almost about to give up going out in a saree.

But, a quick change later, I was in this Vairaoosi in Madurai 120-count cotton. Breezy, comfy and absolutely worth the wardrobe change.

But wait… does this also count towards the Traditional Colours box?

Finally got home late evening, changed into a kaftan and headed out for a Golu visit. Because apparently, my day wasn’t complete without one more outfit change.

And now, typing this in a half-functioning state, with whatever brain cells survived the day.

#navrangnavratriwithbhamasri #navaratrisareebingo @srilata_kala @srilakshmi15 @arch.venk by @ghostreeler

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3 days ago