Instagram story viewer> @devnivihara_> Tagged

DEVNI VIHARA

@devnivihara_

18.4K

followers

2987

following

for the multi dimensional lover girls who live fully, laugh loudly, travel the world & smash the patriarchy ✨
melbourne 💌[email protected]

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

We sat down with Devni Vihara to talk all things wellbeing - her rituals, routines and her relationship with rest.

A few thoughts on finding balance, slowing down and making time for yourself. 🤍

52

6

A woman finally finds the courage to report harassment, only to be blamed, humiliated, or even harassed by the very people meant to protect her.

This isn't just a policing failure. It's a deeper culture of victim-blaming that allows violence against women to be normalised.

When reporting abuse becomes another source of trauma, where does justice begin?

#VictimBlaming #WomensRights #GenderBasedViolence #PoliceAccountability #JusticeForWomen #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #WomenSafety #GenderEquality #HumanRights #SocialJustice #SriLanka #India #WomenEmpowerment #StopVictimBlaming #awareness

125

0

Sometimes, protecting the family’s reputation comes at the expense of protecting the women within it.

A difficult truth about abuse, silence and the pressure to preserve the image of a family.

#SouthAsia #WomensSafety #GenderBasedViolence #DomesticViolence #WomenRights #GenderEquality #SocialJustice #HumanRights #WomenEmpowerment #FamilyReputation #SEN

9

0

If you say you've had more fun shopping for frames, you're lying x

Thanks for having us @gentlemonster ✨️

3

12

No winter blues here ❄️

144

3

The colonial hangover in South Asia is a never-ending cycle of colorism and language obsession. From Sri Lanka to the wider diaspora, we still view Western culture and lighter skin as superior. It is time for us to start reclaiming our South Asian roots and dismantling this cultural mindset.

#Colonialism #Identity #SouthAsia #SriLanka #Culture #Decolonization #History #SelfIdentity #CulturalIdentity #SocialIssues #GenZ #Podcast #Reels #ExplorePage #ViralReels

74

2

It is time to dismantle toxic South Asian beauty standards and colorism. Gen Z is leading the cultural shift toward radical self-acceptance and brown skin pride. You do not need to change your features to be successful or loved. Start taking up space and embrace your identity today.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.

#SelfLove #BodyPositivity #SelfAcceptance #Confidence #MentalHealth #WomenEmpowerment #GenZ #BeYourself #SelfWorth #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #Reels #ExplorePage #ViralReels #TrendingReels

14

0

Exposing the harsh reality of colorism within the South Asian diaspora as TikTok ads push baby skin lightening oil to targeted parents. We examine why societal pressure drives mothers toward skin whitening products and how generational beauty standards continue impacting opportunity, privilege, and cultural perception across global communities today.

#Colorism #SouthAsianDiaspora #TikTokTrends #SkinLightening #DesiCulture

54

1

One of the questions I was asked on the panel was what shared subcontinental cloth culture actually looked like before 1947.

It's impossible to talk about South Asian identity without talking about Partition, because it reshaped how generations of people came to understand themselves, their neighbours & even their culture.

Watching recent footage coming out of India has been heartbreaking. Seeing young people, families & entire communities caught in moments of fear & uncertainty is a reminder that when hardship arrives, many of the labels we cling to begin to dissolve. In those moments, people are simply responding to another human being.

That's why I've never understood my own identity through the lens of a border. As a Pakistani-Australian, married into an Indian family, I've always felt that our stories, languages, food, music, textiles & traditions overlap far more than they divide.

The deeper I explored our textile history through building Qaim, the more I realised that so much of what we confidently call "Indian" or "Pakistani" today existed long before either country did. These traditions travelled across regions, kingdoms, trade routes & communities for centuries, carried by people, not passports.

Colonialism encouraged us to think in categories. Partition deepened many of those divisions. Since then, politics, branding & nationalism have continued to shape the way we understand culture, often presenting it as something that belongs to one nation rather than recognising how deeply interconnected our histories are.

Belonging isn't always about fitting into one identity. It's about embracing the spaces where identities meet.

Doing this panel reminded me why I started Qaim in the first place: to become more curious about the stories that connect us. Because the most beautiful parts of our culture are often the things that unite us.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of such an important conversation @australiansouthasiancentre 🤎

📷 by @sanya.captures.you
📍 Offbeat Saree Exhibition @bunjil_place

#community #sustainability #India #pakistan #fashion Speaking on a panel at the Offbeat Saree Exhibition at Bunjil Place, discussing South Asian identity, Partition, Ajrak textiles, shared cultural heritage, sustainable fashion and the history of the sari.

104

5

“Too niche.” That’s what one of the major Australian retailer told us pitching a Diwali gifting collab, handcrafted by women in India, for a festival half this country now shows up to celebrate.

Too niche. In 2026.

I’m not going to pretend that didn’t sting. But it also confirmed something I already knew.

The thriving world is where cultural richness isn’t a niche. Storytelling. Heritage. Assimilation done with respect, not erasure. This is what expands what we’re capable of building.

Robots don’t do culture. Humans do.

This is exactly why exhibitions like The Offbeat Sari at Bunjil Place curated by Priya Khanchandani matter! Culture expands consciousness.

I appreciate you @devnivihara_ for facilitating our panel discussion with intent and shoutout to my fellow panel members Huda and Srishti Chaudhary for the depth you brought to that stage.

Daizy Maan @australiansouthasiancentre team and Prerna Karnani @shaadisandmore_au thank you for efforts behind the scenes. Appreciate you all for showing up @ananyafrey @priyankanomulaofficial @leahvandenb @sanya.captures.you @somakochak @kanikas__kitchen

There is space for everyone to thrive. I’ll keep building Punar We’re in a cultural renaissance. Renaissances don’t ask permission to take up space.

The Offbeat Sari exhibition is on until 30 August, link in comment 🥻
#heritage #saree #culturalappropriation #australia

71

32

Six metres of fabric can hold generations of stories, traditions and identity ❤️✨

Such a well-organised event by @australiansouthasiancentre with an lovely panel sharing personal stories and celebrating the richness and diversity of South Asian heritage. @punar.co @devnivihara_

The Offbeat Sari exhibition at @bunjil_place was such a cool experience beautifully curated and a refreshing way to explore the saree beyond tradition.

Absolutely enjoyed being part of the saree draping workshop by @lajeenartistry and @melbournemakeover Watching the same saree transform into different regional drapes was fascinating.

Most of all, it was lovely catching up with these incredible South Asian girlies. ❤️ @shaadisandmore_au @ananyafrey @sanya.captures.you @somakochak and everyone who made the day even more special.

Special mention to my outfit from @kulture_by_k ✨ Loved how versatile this suit set is, each piece can be styled beautifully on its own. The cropped top was the perfect saree blouse 😍🤍

#sareesoirée

3

15

A huge thank you to @daizymaan & the team at @australiansouthasiancentre for inviting me to be part of yesterday's Saree Soirée at Bunjil Place! To @shaadisandmore_au for keeping everything running so seamlessly behind the scenes. From organising the panel and workshop to making sure we were all where we needed to be.

It was such a thoughtful afternoon of conversation, creativity and community, and a privilege to share the stage with our moderator @devnivihara_, @punar.co and @veira_boutique hearing how each of us approaches culture, fashion and storytelling through our own work.

We explored some big questions together, from how Partition has shaped the way we think about identity and the sari, to the stories we inherit about clothing, including the superstitions that still influence how many people view second-hand and upcycled garments. It was a reminder that fashion is never just about what we wear. It's about history, memory, family and the meanings we attach to the things we keep.

One of my favourite moments came after the panel, watching everyone help each other learn to drape a sari with @lajeenartistry. What a way to end the day by watching strangers adjusting pleats, fixing pins, sharing tips and encouraging one another.

Thank you to all the friends and family who came along to show their appreciation and support 🥰

If you haven't had a chance to visit the Offbeat Sari exhibition at @bunjil_place yet, it's absolutely worth checking out. Alongside the stories behind the sari, you'll find the work of some incredibly talented South Asian designers and creatives whose pieces celebrate craftsmanship, heritage and contemporary design in such unique ways. The exhibition is on until 30 August, so there's still plenty of time to experience it.

#community #india #pakistan #Melbourne

113

22