Virasat is a Hindi word meaning heirloom and legacy. Heirloom pieces hold stories and transform our memories into tangible forms. They also allow us to be reminded of a past we did not live in. This photographic series is a testament to my family lineage, representing aesthetic beauty but also symbolising my permanent bond and connection to my grandma through the sari she has passed down to me.
Within my project, I aim to capture the everlasting relationship the sari enables between grandmothers and granddaughters as it is shared across generations. The series explores the vibrancy and familial beauty of Indian culture, through simple yet timelessly significant acts like eating, drinking chai and passing down jewellery, saris and family recipes. Through an intimate lens, I have photographed both my grandma and cousin wearing the heirloom sari, telling a personal story about love and guidance shared between two people. The photographs capture both the age and beauty of the wearer, and reflect that this single piece of cloth remains unchanged in size and shape over time despite generations of people wearing it.
This series honours the objects which preserve stories of family heritage, bonding generations together and transforming these connections into something tactile.
