Diwali vignettes

Diwali is one of the most celebrated festival in our country. I know most households would have started with their customary annual cleaning, done with their shopping for clothes and gifts and the lady of the Home would have put their thinking caps on as to what sweets and savouries should be made! Now, as we entertain family and friends during Diwali we would like our cosy nests to be decked up too!

Sometimes it is more or less a challenge to give a different and unique look each year. I have put up some vignettes around home which is a little special than those on regular days.
Rangoli or kolam, flowers, garlands, brass & silver artifacts are stuff that goes with the spirit of festival of lights.

Have a look at these arrangements and with a slight twist you can create your own look for the year!

 The humble rangoli frame in a new avatar:

The rangoli making frame is so useful to design pretty and colourful artwork on floor. As in my case, I have used it as a tray to hold my diyas. I have styled my dining table ( which sure is where all the action happens!) with a colourful runner, gathered all the pretty brass and earthen diyas and arranged on the frame. Use battery operated T lights or the regular T lights on these diyas so that there is no hassle of cleaning up either! Now off you go ! The dining table with all the lip smacking traditional goodies is all bright and lit up!!
Believe me it will be a novel idea... Try it out...


Decorating with deities:

The duo of Ganesha and Lakshmi are worshiped on Deepavali, so it only makes sense that you dedicate portions of your home to invoke their blessings.
If you observe the above vignette it includes idols, sticker kolam, metal balls of light and a coconut candle. The coconut candle holder is an interesting and an easy DIY.
As you break the coconut into half and use the fruit in your cooking,scrape out all the residual from the shell.Now you can fill each half with wax (in molten form) which is easily available in market.Place a wick inside the wax before it sets. There you have a coconut shell Diya. Isn't that unique?

A closer view of the coconut shell lamp...I have placed some rose petals inside and drawn a simple pattern on the outside to enhance it.

DIY's are fun because it indicates your level of involvement.

Add silver for the festive touch:

Diwali is also about  bling, sparkle and glitter.Do not hide your silverware in your wardrobe. Time to bring them out.
Remove the accumulated tarnish on the silverware, arrange them together and you have a pretty vignette.
I don't light up all my silver lamps since they cant hold enough oil but they are just too beautiful not to be used!This is my alternate use of all these pretty stuff. I display them on these special days and feel blessed!

Did you like the look of my home on Diwali this year? I hope you do! Share your home with sajavat and its readers. I will be happy to feature them on my blog.
Have a safe and happy time with your near and dear ones!

Shubh Deepavali !!!

Role of deities in Indian decor

As I sat one day lazily sipping coffee and watching an ad on t.v, I happened to gaze around my home and a sudden realization came upon me. How much we Indians love to have decor around our favourite deities!

Every corner in my home had an idol of Gods and Goddess ranging from Ganesha, Hanuman, Rama, Krishna, Durga and the likes. And to tell you, we really love it that way! Deities are omnipresent in our decor scheme.

Some of the Gods that we have are purely because somewhere we have a special attachment with them, some are so cute that you got to display them, some are considered auspicious, some because a certain God has a deep connection with an Indian art form, that you so much love and so it goes... Ah! the reasons are many.

Anyway sharing some images from my home.I know for sure that most readers will instantly connect with the point am trying to make.

Ganesha playing the flute is a little different because generally Krishna is seen playing the flute.

Lord Guruvayurappan, another form of Krishna is the main deity in Guruvayyur in Kerala This is special since it was a  gift from my aunt for my wedding

My home is blessed with the presence of Ganpati, in frames and idol form

Rama and Krishna among the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu on my coffee table

Hanuman in Kinhal craft which is a  traditional wooden craft local to the town of Kinhal, or Kinnal, in Koppal District, North Karnataka, India

Here Maruti is depicted as the courageous one (Viramaruti) ready for battle and thus tail in the upright position.Sometimes he is shown as the servitor,paying obeisance  to Lord Rama (Dasmaruti) where his tail rests on the ground.

This is a Ganesha  carved on wood, have been hugely inspired by Chandan Dubey to frame it this way by providing a backdrop with an orange hued silk fabric.The small motifs are handpainted.

These were some of the spaces in my abode, influenced by the divine power. How about you? Do you also gravitate towards the presence of the supreme being in your home.

Coming soon on the blog is a review and the interiors of a lovely resort in Karnataka. Stay tuned for more!

Ganesha at my home-enjoying Flatlay aesthetic

 Hello there,have you all started the preparation for welcoming Ganesha in your abode? Its such a special and awaited event. Kids and adults enjoy the festival alike.Now, am not sure whether its for the yummy modak or because he is always believed to be kids-friendly!

Today I experimented with some Flatlay photography...Yes yes, the one that has caught Instagrammers in a wild frenzy:)

Although am not on Instagram,I wanted to give this aesthetic of photography a try.So here you go...I read about some basic rules of the same and here it is.

Choose a theme

Can the theme be anything better and bigger than Ganesha? So the theme that we have chosen is Ganpati and home styling

Focus on the subject

Ganesha within a bamboo frame

To ensure that the subject is given due importance the flatlay should not be cluttered.Enough space has to be maintained between each object in the flatlay

Have natural light

Nothing to replace natural light while taking a picture.So ensure thst there is enough natural light in the room.

Colour palette

Ganesha in red...is dancing with me :)  ???

It is better to have one colour palette and a basic background.

Use props

Ganesha loves nature!

Make the frame look attractive by adding props to the Flatlay that complements the subject.

These are some images of Ganesha around home today...Hope you liked my tips on Flatlay. Have a joyful celebration at home with family and friends.See you all soon.

DIY GANESHA

Ganesh Chaturthi is around the corner. I thought of sharing some easy DIY to make Eco-Friendly Ganesha at home. Going green is the need of the hour.Enjoy to your heart 's content with these super easy ideas which with a little practice even the kids can make. Use your creativity along with my ideas and yo! you are all set to enjoy the festival with a bang!

Method -1

Materials needed: wheat flour, turmeric, vermillion

1.First determine the size of Gajendra you want to make.
2.Knead the wheat flour and make dough, adding water little by little.
3. while kneeding also add turmeric until it gets the right hue
4.Shape into a ball. Now slowly give it the shape of the elephant -God
5. Lastly with the help of vermilion (kumkum) give color to the trunk eyes and the padams.

Wasn't that an easy one. Come on. Now for another method.



Method-2
 Materials needed: Rice flour

 This is a super simple one.
1. You can use the store bought rice flour for this.Initially for a few seconds fry the rice flour in a pan
2. Now you have to  knead the same, adding water( usually double the quantity of flour) keeping it, in the pan itself and stirring it,till it dries.

3. Just shape the ball of dough (adding a little oil in your palms) into your favourite Lord Vinayaka
4. You can use mustard for his eyes .For a bigger eye use peppercorns and clove for the tooth in his trunk.

Method -3
Material needed: Turmeric powder

This is a Vighnaharta made a little while ago for  a family function by my mother.

1. Take kneaded turmeric powder
2. Give a rough shape of Ganpati and voila you are ready with your own Lambodara.



Method 4
Material needed: Potter's clay or kids playdough

1. Keep the form of the cute Ekadanta in mind or a pic in front before you start.Since you are using potter's clay or terracotta that will air dry, you have the basic ingredient at hand
2. You only need to give the final shape.
3.Now go ahead and paint according to your imagination.

Method -5
Materials needed: Newspaper, maida(refined flour), salt & loads of patience

 This Mooshikavahana may induce laughter, since it did not turn very much like 'The Gajapati'

This is the link that I referred while making this Gajanana.

http://www.woodooz.com/2012/09/a-do-it-iyourself-idol-of-lord-ganesha.html

Do visit the site for the correct method and its an easy one

Let me tell you, the paper mache clay came out well but it is my inability to shape it well that has led to its current state. Also I have learnt that to get a fine clay one must opt for tissue papers rather than newspaper.

Go ahead and make your own Omkara.

Mangalamurti Maurya! Ganapati Bappa Maurya!

INDIA, FESTIVALS AND COLOURS

Ganesha has marked the beginning for all festivities to follow.





(Ganesha made by me on Ganesha Chaturthi with rice paste.)

(Rangoli in our building reception area)

Onam just passed by.(festival associated with flowers and colours)POOKALAMS -Rangoli with flowers is a sight to behold in all keralite households.

(Floral rangoli or pookalam made by my cousins)



Next in line is navratri,soon to be succeceeded by Diwali.
The dandiya raas,Durga puja ,bommai kolu and sarswati pooja all mean Navratri in different parts of India.One country and  various ways of celebrating the same festival.YES!It happens 'ONLY IN INDIA'




(Bommai kollu as part of dusshera celebration in South India)




(A merchant selling his wares)






(Dandiya raas)



(Durga puja in full form -Calcutta)




(Lanterns and colours that signify Deepawali)



(lights,diyas,rangolis,flowers mark DEEPAWALI)



(Sivakasi Fireworks-another feature of the festival of lights)




I know cleaning,arranging, rearranging,decorating and beautifying every nook and corner of your home has started in all the households.Brass artefacts polished.New torans for the  front door.
Rangolis,floral arrangements,candles and diyas all to give that extra special touch to your abode.
The pooja corner is the brightest, lit with the special silver lamps that come out of the lockers for the special occasion.



Festivals mean not only decorating our homes but also taking a peep into our wardrobes.Those gorgeous six yards have to come out of the closets.The traditional kaanjipurams,paithani,chanderi,maheshwari,tussars... vow am speechless..India has so much to offer.Not to forget  jewellery.Painstakingly bought and reserved for such occasions,women dress up from head to toe.How beautiful it looks!!A women adorning neckpieces,rings and earrings,nathni or the nosepin,anklet and toering...I know they need a seperate post..

(from my Saree collection)


Food finds a special mention here.Those mouthwatering sweets and savouries.


These are our childhood memories of a home filled with little girls,boys men and women dressed  in their best traditional attire,sweet aromas of food and flowers filling the air...

I know our generation also tries its level best to keep the traditions alive.Let their young ones also bathe in the beauty of these festivities and savour each and every moment .


So here is wishing you all a happy festival time.Enjoy every bit.keep blogging and posting and another thing....If you like what you find here in SAJAVAT,let me know your opinion.
Please do comment.I would love to hear from all of you.Share with me how you celebrated these festivals,(loaded with pictures) and I will post them on my blog.


(unless mentioned all images are sourced from the internet)

 BE HAPPY ,SPREAD HAPPINESS AND THAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

VIGHNAHARTA

No task in any Hindu household is completed without GANESH PUJAN

Recently we had a family function at our place .We invited Ganpatiji to seek his blessings.






That is the Ganesha Me,my sis and cousin made with wheat flour,turmeric and vermillion.

But you know how it is with all our functions......So much to do in so less time.
And when you have to reach another venue ,there's always this last minute rush,so much of confusion that in the end we forgot to take our lucky mascot..HE knew his presence matters and so things went well..
You can also make a Ganesha with a big ball of turmeric powder by mixing it with little water and making a paste from it.Then shaping it in the form of Vinayaka..This will stay longer than the wheat flour Ganesha..


Celebrataions,gatherings,festivals ... are so much fun.Not only do you get to meet all your friends and relatives,but we also dress up for the occassion.Our Homes get a festive feel and what better way than to say it with flowers....
Flowers add so much freshness .They enliven the surroundings and cool your senses.

some more pics of Gajanana..

The terracotta Ganesha's took my heart away when I saw them displayed at a road side stall,on our family trip to Coorg.I really marvelled, the artisan's skill and labour.All Ganesha's looking beautiful.Truly The Labour Of Love!!!

DUSSERRA

Navratri means nine days which are celebrated with much fun and enthusiasm all over India.
Different people and different culture but these nine days are meant to worship the Goddess of Wealth,Power and Knowledge. Laxmi,Durga and Saraswati.
In most Indian homes 'Haldi-Kumkum' is the main feature.

Decorate your Thali as you please!! May be in nine different ways!


In South India People give Betel leaves along with Haldi Kumkum'Vethala Paaku'(betel leaf & Supari).
I found a novel way to decorate a corner of my home with these betel leaves.

ASHTAVINAYAKAR

Another one from my Ganesha collection.

vinayaka

My house is adorned with Ganesha.Iam a big fan of Him.