The other day, I was watching a movie with my family. There was a scene where the heroine tells the hero that shopping is the only place where women have the freedom to truly be themselves without any restrictions. Those words really hit me, and I thought, "Yes! That’s exactly how I feel when I go shopping as Meghana!" So, I decided to share one of my experiences with you all.

As many of you know, I’m one of the few crossdressers who loves to doll up and go out in public, especially for shopping. Tirupati is my favorite place to shop. The people there are so kind and devotional, and they don't judge you. It’s like a safe haven for me.

One day, I was out looking for some toys for my kid near Govindaraj Temple when an elderly woman from a small bangle shop waved me over. She had the warmest smile. I couldn’t resist, so I walked into her tiny shop, which barely had space for one person to sit on a wooden stool. She immediately complimented my half-saree and asked me to stretch out my hands.

She carefully selected one dozen pink and green bangles that matched my outfit, alternating the colors as she slid them onto my wrists. The delicate clinking of the glass bangles was like music to my ears. Just as I was lost in the moment, another elderly woman, who was selling jasmine flowers to the temple devotees, came by. The bangle lady, Mangamma, called her over and told her to place some flowers in my hair. Without a word, the flower-seller took a long strand of jasmine and gently pinned it into my hair. I was overwhelmed with joy. When I reached for my purse to pay, she refused and instead kissed my hand, radiating motherly love. I paid Mangamma for the bangles and flowers and left, feeling truly cherished.

On another occasion, I visited a ladies' fancy store to buy some nail polish and oxidized metal jewelry. As soon as I entered, a salesgirl greeted me with a smile and said, "Akka (elder sister), what do you need? Bangles, kajal, lipstick?" The list went on and on. I had to interrupt her excitement to ask for the jewelry. After browsing through their collection, I picked a few pieces that I loved. When I went to the billing counter to pay, the salesgirl handed me a Kit-Kat chocolate along with my purchase, and she even complimented me on how beautiful I looked. It’s the small moments like these that make shopping so delightful.

One more special memory was when I went shopping with my sisters—Sujana Akka, Nisha, and her daughter Nishika—to buy a saree for Goddess Gangamma. The plan was simple: buy a saree, blouse piece, bangles, flowers, turmeric powder, and vermilion as offerings to the goddess during our temple visit. But of course, we ended up buying Kerala sarees for ourselves too! Nishika, the little ball of energy she is, started asking her mom for a silk saree. Nisha, trying to be practical, told her that she already had a wardrobe full of sarees. But Nishika wasn’t having any of it! She kept trying on sarees, one after another, and the salesgirls were just loving the fun banter between Nisha, Nishika, Sujana Akka, and me. We had a blast and ended up with more sarees than we planned for. But isn't that what shopping with family is all about?

So, my dear friends, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. Take a good friend or a loved one along and explore the beautiful world with your feminine eyes. You’ll see beauty in places you never imagined. Happy dressing, and enjoy being yourself always!

P.S: Through my blogs, I would like to share my personal experiences with you all. As a crossdresser many of us are scare to come out and spend rest of their life as closet crossdressers. If you choose the place to come out and dress up appropriately to the occasion, you can enjoy dressing in the public like anything. Tirupathi is one of such place where you can be truly you.