Our Darling Ganesha!

With the celebratory occasion...�Ganeshas� are having a moment right now. And just like every year, we too have invited eco-friendly �Bappa� in our home. No corner of our home is untouched with the celebration. Especially our pooja room, which is brimming with his love and presence. The sound of soothing 'Bhajans' and the rising of chanting 'prayers' has left a purifying effect in our temple room which I look forward to enjoy every year.

Festive look this year has been created with the burst of yellow and green colors with some red thrown in. Strings of artificial marigold garlands have been placed on the runner (dupatta) to uplift the aura of the room. Our daughter's Lord Ganesha portraits are adding enough splashes of colors making it a perfect backdrop.

Taking care of the environment while we celebrate the festival, our daughter has been making idols at home since last four years now. You may peek here and here for our last two years' idols.We immerse him in a 'kundi' at home and let him be with us by pouring his left overs in our little garden.

Though one must visit India in order to experience the grandeur and splendor of ten days festivity of �Ganesha Chaturthi�, which is celebrated with much zeal and fervor.

With more festivities lining up to our calendar, I have so much to do, to plan and celebrate the festive joy at this time of the year. Signing out for today, as I head back to tick off the long list of things to tackle for the upcoming days. Stay connected until we meet again friends, toodles!

Eco-friendly Ganesha!

Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most talked about festival, brings to mind joy, fervor, extra zeal, pomp and gaiety.  The festival has created quite a stir in our home as well and the thrill and delight in equal measure has propelled us into a festive mode.  

Just like last year, our daughter has rescued us this year also by carving out our own excellent �Bappa� for the festivities. Moulded with her labor of love, he is ready to be surrounded by love throughout his stay and shower his blessings.

 

This year, we are celebrating with double the joy as with extra time on hand, she managed to make 2 idols :). Unlike last year�s bappa placed on a flower, this year, he will be taking his seat on a leaf.

There is definitely an appeal that adds allure to her handmade creations. It likewise also makes both of us happy to see her engaging herself in traditions.

We have left the polluting bandwagon of immersing our idol long back and now carrying out the most elaborated way to celebrate the festival.  The worshipped idol will be immersed in �kundi� or �urli� after the festivities and the water will be poured out in our own garden to feel his presence forever with us.

For those who want to "go-green" with this year's celebration, can use air-dry-clay from Michaels, which is sturdy and fits the bill perfectly for us to mould our idol. The easy to use and easy to smooth air-dry-clay softens with water and ideally flexible for variety of other sculptures as well. After drying the clay idol (about a day) she painted him with acrylic paint.

The excitement of �Ganesha�s� arrival is palpable and preparations are at the peak and hoping the same for those who celebrate the festival.  As I turn myself back on the festive mode, we will see you again next week with a post gargling about our unseen collection of �Gifted Ganesha�.  Until then stay connected on Facebook and Instagram, toodles!

Traditional Touch

I absolutely love the natural color and rustic appeal of terra cotta. Though, unlike India where there is an abundance of such artifacts found almost everywhere, sadly in my part of the globe, to enjoy their charm, we only have to cautiously lug them in our handbags from our visits to India. Few slices of such earthy clay wonders are shifted on the coffee table.

 

 

As you know my personal treasures are the essential finishing bits around my home, and few of these long forgotten treasures are called in service. Ever changing eye catching display  on my coffee table is always welcomed here with artfully placed vignettes of accessories.  

To complete the ethnic vignette I have paired my kutchhi handbag as a base of the vignette. Few clay wall plaques which have followed us from our previous home are placed to link them visually. The darling little Ganesha here is a thoughtful gift of a dear friend who knew our collection was lacking a clay Ganesha, and he is now added as our cutest member in the growing gang of Ganesha :)  

The colorful and bright effect is making me wonder how an artisan creates these tiny details and textured pieces in many shades with just a fistful of clay. Whatever will be the era, the charm and instant glamour of terra cotta will always be pretty inspiring, until we meet again, stay connected on my passion feeds of facebook or instagram, toodles!

Go Green Ganesha!

The herald of the auspicious arrival of �Ganpati Bappa� is imminent. As many states in India and probably across the globe Ganesha aficionados have started the groundwork in full swing for the preparation of the grandest and most expounded arrival for the festival.

Yes, we are also under his fever as he is coming with his little boy lost look to flabbergast us over his powerful impression and comforting plump belly to gobble down our �ladoos� for the poised celebration of 10 days of devotion and delight to bring fortune and joy in our lives. 

Ganesh 2015

I have lost the count of exact numbers of years that he is welcomed to our home now for the festival. Though, since last 2 years, we were puzzling over with new possibilities for his sculpture. Hit with a wave of confusion on his arrival for his figurine as it is difficult to find a perfect one to meet our purpose and also not to forget the struggle we had to face when we bid adieu.  After worshipping the deity for 10 days, his �visarjan� (immersion) was challenging being on the coldest sphere.

 

 

Our curiosity won out after few good thoughts and some scrolling on the web, which compelled the artist in the house to give her clever touches to mould him and form him to suit our desires.  As a result of our vision and courage to think differently we are able to go green with his figurine. The fruits of her labour created and moulded �Ganesha� with air dry clay from Michael�s Craft Store and few strokes of paint. She also whittled out a lotus base �aasana� for him.  

 

Ganesha 2014

The last year�s statue was a first attempt at going green but this year�s look bowled all of us out, we loved how he is adopting a little boy look. Being a clay model our practical requirement of his immersion is well served as on the last day we just soak him in a pot at home and the infused water with clay is also kept forever by pouring in our garden next day, that way he exists with us always.

Up next on the blog will be some over dose of brass and my collection show off.  Exclusively for the �Ganesh Chaturthi�, unveiling many new and existing Ganesha, so stay connected on facebook for more updates and some eye candy images of celebrations. Until we meet again, toodles!