Pune based author and speaker Shefali Vaidya on Wednesday initiated an important conversation on Twitter. Sharing a bizarre video from outside an Indian restaurant, the author informed social media users that a woman was denied entry inside the premises because she was wearing a saree.

Apparently, the restaurant staff member in the video says the saree was not smart enough clothing as per the dress code. The video was first shared by Anita Choudhry, who is an ex-journalist.

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Protesting against the call, Vaidya wrote on Twitter, “Who decides sari is not ‘smart wear’? I have worn sarees at the best restaurants in the US, UAE as well in UK. No one stopped me. And some Aquila Restaurant dictates a dress code in India and decides saree is not ‘smart enough? Bizarre.”

Vaidya also re-shared the video of the entire fiasco. Here’s the clip!

In the video, Choudhry can be
heard arguing with the restraint staff and asking them to show their rules that
states saree is not allowed on the premises.

Also Read: Graphic print sarees will blow your mind and the trend is here to stay

In
response to Choudhry’s question, one of the female staff members says that the
restaurant only allows smart casuals and the saree does not come in smart
casuals.

Stunned
by the response, Vaidya writes on the platform that some of the biggest
restaurants in western countries like the US and UK never denied her entry on
the basis of her clothing, i.e a saree, posing an important question if Indians
are being too driven by the western culture that they label an authentic
traditional attire as non-smart.

Meanwhile, social media users, who were quick to react to the incident lent support to the author. Here are some reactions! 

Shefali Vaidya, who is popular for donning a saree on almost all occasions and is celebrated for her enthralling collection and knowledge of Indian textiles and sarees was also appointed as a member in a specially constituted committee formed by the Ministry of Textiles.