DURGA PUJA-3: Pre- Puja SHOPPING

SHOPPING!

HAVE YOU DONE YOURS?
STILL PENDING?
LAST MOMENT RUSH?
HECTIC YET EXCITING!

Let me take you out with me
Where?...............................           Taanter Haat

 

This is a wonderful effort by the Government to promote the weavers, small businessmen and craftsmen to come closer to the consumer. The exhibitions are THE place to go. You get to see a variety and some very off the beat stunning pieces at very reasonable prices.

 

We reached in the noon, so were saved off the mad rush.

Pretty mannequin in a pretty saree?

 

Lovely display of different types of handwoven sarees from different parts of Bengal.

All kinds of colours- bright, muted; varying combination...

visual treat...

 

Don't forget the accessories to go with the sarees.

Am just thrilled by the  variety of tassels here...

 

Don't miss these craftsmen at work.

The man on left is carving a piece of soft wood, the man on right is painting the carved wooden block.

 

Must have one of these lovely dolls.

The pretty Lakhi pachaa, Auspicious owl is just right for the table.

 

This is dokra art of the tribals.

Here thin wire like strips of bee wax are twinned to give a shape; then a mold with clay is made; on heating the wax comes out and a hollow mold  is made. Now the craftsman fills the mold with molten copper. Once cold the mold is broken and a shiny piece of art is produced.

 

The masks in the making.

The tribal Santhali man and woman, Goddess Kali and Goddess Durga...

 

Ferocious demon face, just right for the entryway to ward off the evil...

 

Madhubani painting art

Each piece is a story in itself of folklores, daily life or a small prayer

Rush do your shopping
eat out
chat.....chat.....and chat....
Enjoy!!!

DURGA PUJA-2: MAHALAYA

Devi paksh begins!

Pitri paksha (15days prior to Mahalaya) ended with paying of homage to our ancesters in form of prayers and food to needy.

Devi paksha is the holy time for begining new things and ventures.

Now the Goddess Durga is invited and requested to come to her paternal home, Earth and live amongst us.

This day the story of Mahisasoor vadh is told (the victory of good upon bad) and Goddess is prayed! 

"Jaago Durga
Jaago Dashpraharan-dharini..."

"Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita
Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha."

AUTUMN FOLDER-SAVE THE COLOURED MEMOURS!

Hi! A very big Hi!!
Autumn is here!

 

Let us celebrate by making a paper folder in colours of Autumn. You need one to keep all the beautiful brightly coloured memories in it, or may send some invites.

Here are two lovely handmade papers.

 This is a A3(16.4 inch x11.6inch or 41cm x30cm approximately) size rust coloured handmade paper. Look closer, it has few silk fibers embedded in it.

 

This is another textured handmade paper.

  

Now I have simply folded the A3 paper along its length to give the shape of folder.

 

I have used the textured paper to make the pocket inside the folder. For this folder I have cut the paper as 3.4 inch or 9cm height; and 8.5 inch or 22cm approximately (i.e. width of the folded folder and 1cm extra on both sides for the pocket.

 

It is Autumn, so I sketched few leaves on the back side of the textured cut piece of paper on one long edge (this edge shall form the open edge of pocket). 

 

With a sharp pair of scissors cut out the motif.

 

 

See how beautifully the cut out design stands out against the other colour background.

 

Now I also had a bright orange textured handmade paper (in rather less quantity). Using the same cut out as reference I sketched some more leaves in continuity to previous cutout, but, this time on the front side of orange paper.

 

Neatly cut out. Using zig-zag edged scissors I also cut the rest of the strip of orange paper which is cut about 8.3inch or19.5cm in length.

 

Put glue on reverse edge on the textured paper and stick the orange paper.Lovely design! Isn’t it? Fold about 0.3inch or 1cm of textured paper on the other three sides, and the pocket is formed. Stick the pocket inside the folder on the right hand page flush to the lower edge.Pretty!

 

Front of the folder needs dressing up. This is a lovely thin handmade paper with flower petals embedded in it. Cut it using zig-zag craft scissors to a size of 1inch less on all sides of finish folder. Stick it with glue.

 

How to keep the folder closed, when not in use? Use a belt. For this I used strips of orange paper and a maroon dotted satin ribbon.

 

Here is my belt. The length of orange strip is about 0.4 inch more than twice width of folder. The satin ribbon is long enough to tie a bow around the folder.

 

Tie the belt in middle of folder. If you want to send this as invite, put the contents in the pocket and stick the ends of orange paper of belt and on top of it tie the satin bow. This makes it more personalized. Very dainty!

Enjoy the experiences!
Cherish the memories!
Take care!

I am linking this post with Home Sweet Home party.

DURGA PUJA-1; Making of the the DEV-DEVI murti

‘Sharat, tomar arun alor anjali...’

(‘Sharat, your offering of sunlight’)
This is a beautiful song by Kavi Rabindranath Tagore about Sharad ritu(early autumn season).

 

Love this time of the year.
The sun shines extra bright and happy from in between the clouds. The sun feels warm, refreshing and has a feel of taking away all the germs and dirt.
Its time to open up your trunks, boxes and suitcases to take out all things precious and air them.
Love the smell of sun-kissed linen.

There's something in the air. The blooms this time have just started to bud, and soon the air will fill with sweet intoxicating smell, which makes me nostalgic, and takes me back to childhood Durga Pujo holidays.
I wait for this the whole year

DURGA PUJO IS NEAR!!!

The Kumortuli (potters-residential area) is busy with mud, straw, bamboo, non-toxic colours, shola, shiny cut-out of ornaments and weapons, and shiny fabric in bright colours.

 

These are the preliminary mold cut motifs and small murti face.

 

The craftsman or murtikaar at work...

 

The asura...

looks ferocious enough even now

 

The bamboo frame is made and tied around with straw and mud to give body and shape

 

The clay used is soft river bed mud

 

The murtikaar with his expertise give shapes to many Dev-Devis

 

Each murti has a mythological story to say

 

Each story glorifies the good virtues and their victory over the bad

 

Like the detailing done on the hood of the snake

 

The simple water colour adding more vibrance

 

The vahan Lion in the making

 

Each step takes closer to more majestic forms

 

The singha (lion) ready to pounce and tear the asura to pieces

 

Some of the murtis (idol or statues) are made at the venue itself, as they are big and can be difficult to transfer them from kumartuli to venue.

 

Ganesha

 

Kartikay

 

The assembled murti before the Puja begins

 

Shorod kaler roder jilik

Shiuli fuler gohdho'

Maa esche ghore tai

Mone elo anando.

Kumor tuli holo khali

touri holo dhaki...

(The glimpse of the sunlight of early autumn

beautiful smell of shiuli flower

Mother Durga is coming

So my heart is full of happiness

The potter's colony is getting empty

Drummers are getting ready...)

 

Have a blessed Durga Pujo!

Have a healthy, happy and successful life ahead!

SPEED CAR ON MY Tee !

If you remember my last post on " CAR RIDE ON MY T-SHIRT  " dated 31/05/2014; my daughter got a t-shirt with a car on it ; my son also wanted one. Like all sons they love cars and speed. So I got him a polo neck dark green T-shirt with full sleeves keeping in mind the cold weather coming ahead.

Next I drew a car, got it approved by Adhrit(my son).

Coloured it.

Sew it the same way as my daughter Aarotrika's T-shirt.
What do you think?

 Adhrit was tired after all his days play and slept till late in the evening. So Aarotrika modeled the T-shirt for me.

Dresses always look good on people than on hangers or mannequins.

Ready for the ride?

May I sing
"आजा मेरी गाड़ी में बैठ जा।
आजा मेरी गाड़ी में बैठ जा।
फुल स्पीड जायेंगे
कंही रुकेंगे न हम। … "

I am linking this post with Home Sweet Home party.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

15th August is a day all Indian celebrate with pride and respect to all those known and even all unsung heroes, for whose sacrifice that we today enjoy the free air!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

COME LETS CELEBRATE THE VIRTUES OF THE TRICOLOUR!

JAI HIND!