Recently, saree started trending on social media when a woman posted the video of high-end Delhi restaurant refusing her an entry because she was wearing a saree. After the video went viral on social media, the restaurant faced massive backlash.
In a Facebook post, Anita Choudaary alleged she was not allowed to enter the Aquila restaurant at Ansal Plaza here on Sunday, because she was wearing a saree.
“In one of the restaurants in Delhi, saree is not considered to be a smart outfit. The restaurant’s name is Aquila. We argued over saree, and a lot of excuses were made, but I was not allowed to enter the restaurant, because the Indian attire saree is not a smart outfit.”
“I have never been insulted like this. I also feel hurt,” she wrote. She also posted a short video of her argument with the restaurant staff, alongside a couple of pictures of herself in the saree.
Choudaary, as per her Facebook profile, is a creative director at Doordarshan National. After Choudaary’s post went viral, the restaurant received heavy backlash for calling saree not a smart casual.
Half naked ladies with skirt slits high up their thighs are welcomed graciously by these restaurants. But a smartly dressed lady in a graceful #saree is not allowed?
— Sweta Tripathi (@swetatripathi14) September 23, 2021
Netizens call it’assault on our culture’#aquilarestaurant pic.twitter.com/zF716btFnM
Additionally, many netizens came forward to share their proud saree moment!
If #American women can welcome our Honorable PM Shri #NarendraModiJi by wearing
— Saumyatandon (@tandon_20) September 23, 2021
Sarees !
Why cant Indian traditional dresses in #India ??
Comment pls !#aquilarestaurant #saree #ModiInAmerica #ModiUSVisit #ModiInUS #IStandWithTradies #IStandWithIndia pic.twitter.com/LImYEA3ygY
Saree is allowed at Nasdaq but not in Indian restaurants 😒 #aquilarestaurant https://t.co/EFQZYTWkWX
— Sanatani Techie (@sanatanitechie) September 22, 2021
Here I come #AquilaRestaurant ..
— Shikha Kapoor Rajpal🇮🇳 (@Shiks33075327) September 22, 2021
Lets celebrate together .https://t.co/4uj7fec9OP pic.twitter.com/oDbC6z0xtI
#BREAKING #BreakingNews
These women won’t have been allowed inside some 3rd class restaurant (#aquilarestaurant) in #Delhi. But here #USA, it is symbol of pride & Identity with honorable PM #NarendarModi ji. Isn’t it?#saree #ModiInAmerica #ModiUSVisit #ModiInUSA #thursdayvibes pic.twitter.com/trIC2gpYh5— Chitra_fanclub (@chitra_fanclub) September 23, 2021
#aquilarestaurant
— Padmaja 🇮🇳 (@prettypadmaja) September 23, 2021
I worked for service industry for over 44 years, traveled across the continents & my #Saree attire was always appreciated by my foreign counter parts , on couple of occasions some of them even asked to leave the worn one for them. Such is the grace of #saree
Dear #aquilarestaurant , this is Mrs Samantha Cameron, wife of former British PM – David Cameron. She is sporting a saree here and definitely she looks extremely smart and cool. #aquila pic.twitter.com/ot1YZoqDMp
— Velociraptor 🦖 🇮🇳 (@raptorsworld) September 22, 2021
Women are allowed to wear #saree at State dinner in the White House, Washington DC 🇺🇸
— Tin Man 🇮🇳 (@NumbKhopdi) September 23, 2021
But not at a third grade restaurant in New Delhi 🇮🇳#aquilarestaurant pic.twitter.com/gPSBYy5RMx
Our ISRO scientists would be laughing in the face of those clowns who say ” Saree is regressive “🤦♂️🤦♂️#aquilarestaurant #saree pic.twitter.com/20f76Y2yp5
— ब्रदर टेरेसा (@___brw__teresa_) September 23, 2021
After the massive backlash on Wednesday, the restaurant claimed that the incident was misrepresented. The restaurant owner has accused the woman for manhandling the staff. They have put across a short video along with the post:
“A guest visited the restaurant and was politely requested to wait at the gate as there was no reservation under her name. However, while we discussed internally as to where we could seat them, the guest entered the restaurant and began to fight and abuse our staff. What unfolded after was beyond our imagination, with the guest slapping our manager,” the restaurant wrote on its Instagram post.
Along with the video, they further added:
“To tackle the situation and request the guest to leave, one of our gate managers made a statement on sarees not being a part of our smart casual dress code and our whole team apologises for the same,” the statement said.
We chose to stay silent till now & have been patiently watching the incident that took place at Aquila on the 19th of September.
— Aquila Delhi (@AquilaDelhi) September 22, 2021
Video 1 -Footage of the lady assaulting and slapping our team. #saree 1/3 pic.twitter.com/JYWALECKvS
But, many believe that the clipping doesn’t reflect the complete picture. Even if the woman slapped the staff, calling saree – ‘not a smart wear’ and making saree an excuse to not give her an entry is completely wrong.
So why you not upload full video of 1-2 minutes from starting when she enter because no one fool that much like they come and direct abuse your staff if you restaurant policy come before reservation so you have to say please wait we arrange your table and we all people know if we
— Patel Arsad (@Patelarsad5) September 22, 2021
Your 4 seconds video from back against his 16 seconds video difficult to judge something fishy if you are right release video of atleast 60 seconds
— Ravi vyas (@Ravtush) September 22, 2021
No one is a fool to barge in,when there is no room inside-nothing new waiting for one’s turn hence the story that someone slapped your staff because they were asked to wait is a damp-squib.
— bruaos120145 (@bruaos120145) September 22, 2021
Also,no one wants to pick a bone either when they are at a restaurant to have a good time
Till the time the entire video is not there nothing can be concluded. Thus your conduct is still suspicious and totally wrong.
— Prem Dhiman (@pcdhiman) September 22, 2021
While it would take more time for things to get clearer, one thing is for sure that saree is one of the finest piece of our attire that we have! And, we are so proud of our saree collection! (Also Read: If you are a saree lover, here are 30 Different Types Of Regional Sarees To Be Added To Your Wardrobe and 11 stylish saree draping ideas)