Like I mentioned in my earlier post, this is my first golu in my new den, and it is tiny by most standards. Since I needed to have odd-numbered steps, three was the starting point. My mother says, the golu needs to grow each year with new dolls getting added to the list. Step one…
Tag: Indian Festivals
Dahi Handi
At Vrindavan, Krishna was a very naughty child, and his love for makhan (white butter), curds and milk was well known. Vrindavan’s women would tie freshly-churned butter at a height out of Krishna’s reach. But Krishna and his friends would form human pyramid and steal their goodies anyway. This dahi handi ritual has come to…
Rass Leela
Rass Leela a dance which is attributed to Krishna, Radha and the other Gopis. It is further believed that Kathak evolved from the ‘Rass Leela of Braj and Manipuri Classical Dance’ and is often considered as the “Dance of Divine Love”. The story goes like this. One night, the Gopis in Vrindavan, hear Krishna’s flute…
Mysuru Dasara
As the cultural center of Karnataka, the Mysuru Dasara procession is a major tourist attraction. In fact, the city becomes a cultural focal point, as the 10-day festival brings the best of the state’s performers in one city. It reminds me of the Kala Ghoda Festival from back home in Bombay. Apart from the Golu…
Kanya Pujan
Kanya Pujan is celebrated on mahasaptami, mahaashtami and mahanavami of the Durga Navratri. Young girls are worshiped as a symbol of nine forms of Durga. Young girls are innocent and considered pure souls. Before the woman in them awakens, we celebrate their existence by offering them vanity items. This year, my kanya puja offering includes…
Draupadi’s Dilemma
There is no shortage of dilemmas in the Mahābhārata. A very poignant question, always, remains of Yudhisthira choices. Did Yudhiṣṭhira have the right to stake Draupadī after he lost himself? As the story goes, a menstruating Draupadī was dragged into the sabhā by her hair, weeping, bleeding, clad in a single garment. She berates the elders…
Sukhkarta Dukharata
Sukhkarta Dukhharta Varta Vighnachi || Oh Lord who provides Joy, takes away Sorrows, the destroyer of obstacles Nurvi Purvi Prem Krupa Jayachi || The lord who bestows love everywhere as blessings Sarvangi Sundar Uti Shendurachi || The lord who is smeared with lovely yellow-orange fragrance paste all over his body. Kanti Jhalke Mal Mukataphalaanchi..||…
Lord Krishna is Born
According to Hinduism, Krishna was the 8th avatar of Vishnu, and his birth marked the start of Kalyuga, the world we live in. Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in India. Per the Hindu calendar, this religious festival is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksh or…
Transforming India
The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the following speech to the Constituent Assembly of India in New Delhi on August 14 1947… Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially….
Happy Solar New Year
Now several people in a major part of India are oblivious to the fact that south India is made up of five states (Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala) with distinct languages, cultures and celebrations. While Ugadi marks the new lunisolar year in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the same is celebrated as…
Snapshots of my World 