What a wonderful topic of discussion! I haven't watched today's episoe yet, but did read the update..and I'm all up for sharing a few thoughts on Anandi's wardrobe! š
I agree with libsrocks that Anandi isn't really as adapting as she's made to seem. She's always enlightening others about her culture (which is great because Indian culture is, to this day, highly underestimated) but she isn't willing to take her horizons beyond the confines of Rajasthan!
The fact that she wore sarees instead of ghagras doesn't mean that she adapted to the Shekhar-lifestyle... instead, she just made an effort to please her sister-in-law. And with the current situation of her trying new clothes and not willing to wear anything but what she's comfortable in... fair enough, but as the topic maker pointed out, it is also important to wear clothes that are appropriate for a specific environment.
For example, she can't be roaming around in ghaghra cholis in the snow covered hills and valleys of Kashmir (she's not part of a Yash Chopra romance!)...she has to wear warm clothes (i.e. jackets, sweaters, denims) otherwise she'll freeze into a kulfi (despite the presence of her hot hubby š). I understand if she's not willing to sacrifice her jewelry or her pallu (it's like some women not willing to sacrifice their hijab or their sindoor or their mangalsutra)...but it's not like she's being asked to pose naked! Wearing a variety of eastern and western clothes doesn't mean that her body won't be as covered as it is in a ghaghra or a saree... it is quite possible to wear eastern clothes and not look like Ashima did when she came to India! In fact, if I remember correctly, Gauri wore kurits with long skirts and jeans in Mumbai and she didn't look inappropriate!
In Anandi's defense though, maybe she's skeptical about trying new styles of clothes because of the remarks Jagya made about her clothing when she went to Mumbai ... so I'm partially happy about her discomfort in this situation because it gives Shiv an opportunity to bring her out of that bubble of self-consciousness...it'll be a great step ahead in their relationship and will make for some fantastic episodes in my opinion!